Barge Day 6: Moret-sur-Loing to Melun

Today we are biking through the forest of Fountainebleau where we will visit the Chateau Fountainebleau.  This was yet another chateau in favor among French kings because the surrounding land was perfect for hunting.  The castle holds a museum of Napoleon.

It’s a good omen when you match up with the flowers!  Although this is a 40km day on the bikes, this girl is ready!

Today’s journal entry: “Long ride day...maybe 44km. Gosh.  45 minute ride to Fountainebleu where we have 3 hours to tour.  Used the audio guides and it turned into a really interesting visit.  Then we rode to the Impressionist painter’s town of Barbizon.  Went looking for a chocolate eclair.  FOUND ONE!”

Here’s Elaine trying to get in the door that goes “out”....right.

Napoleon was a fancy dresser....for sure.

Here we go...inside!

Yes, more riches displayed...everywhere.

Somehow I just can’t imagine waking up and looking around this room every day....or any day!

Pretty impressive “canopy.”  

Hum, a new concept for “summer getaway.”  

Now it’s off to Barbizon, where a group of landscape painted formed the “school of Barbizon.”  And, where there is a bakery!

Penny surveys the local ice cream shop.

Dalia, a local artist, invites us into her “studio”....the floor of a store front room.

Weiger stops to enjoy his second...or third, lunch of the day.

The bakery window beckons us to come inside....

.

...yes!  The Eclair!

Gotta love that setting for “Tour Assist”.....still smiling after all these days...and kilometers!

The evening walk tonight takes us into Melun, to the Hotel d’Ville...which means, town hall.  We make a funny video here for a ukulele friend. Oh, my, we are such drama queens and kings!

Journal: “Found the eclair.  The ride into the town of Melun was crazy with traffic.  Terrible, actually, for bikes.  Today was forests, hills, up and down, paved, highways, bike paths, terrible speed bumps, a sand trap, gravel, packed gravel, nice river path, more traffic, round abouts in a CITY, ....many take your breath away moments for me.  Feeling of accomplishment.  Big time.”