And now the Loire

Blois, and the Loire. A milestone - see Charlotte's map in the first post to the blog ('The Plan'). The Loire is France's longest river - over 1,000km. And although I'll leave it shortly, it will be a constant for a couple of weeks again soon. It's a fantastic sight on a windy sunny day and photo after photo fails to do it justice. Here's the view looking south across the river from the main town on the right bank. 

The classic views of the river and of Blois are taken from the left bank. These photos are of 'the' bridge, the early 18th century Pont Jacques Gabriel. The first shows the twin towers of the church of St Nicholas and, less obviously, the chateau, while the second shows the cathedral, undergoing work.  

When I arrive in the late afternoon there are Terns tumbling and diving in the breeze, a bird one thinks of as coastal (the 'sea swallow') - who knows how far we are inland - all emphasising the vast expanse of the river, waves with white horses whipped up by the wind. And finally another attempt to capture river, bridge and town with, I hope, Jupiter at least faint and top left and Venus clear and in the centre. 

The chateau is a must and this is the Louis XII wing from the late 15th/early 16th century, from within the courtyard. 

And the towers of St Nicholas. 

Coming here from Vendôme, I walk for a while on this old railway track. (T, H and C will remember a longer stretch in Cuba.)

And that morning I nearly trod on this. I think it is an Asp Viper, somewhat more poisonous than an adder, but I was not going to hang about to check further.