Chateau de Chaumont-Sur-Loire is our last garden. And none too soon for me; I’ve had enough gardens for a lifetime. But Chaumont is more than a garden and chateau. It is a garden of gardens, a sculpture garden (which we somehow missed) and art galleries – lots of them. It includes Festival International Des Jardins (“The Gardens of Deadly Sins”) from April until November. But really now, can you have deadly sins in gardens? Maybe deadly plants. But sins? Oh well, if you believe in sin, you can believe anything.
So this fuzzy painting on the left – and dozens like it in the chateau are supposed to remind you of the long lost wall paper on the chateau walls. “Yawn”. I think my photos of peeling paint are much more interesting and artistic. 
There must have been thousands of attendees this weekend, which is a French/religious three day holiday.
WHO’S RIDING?
John McCoy and Linda Stewart
This couple has their share of toys, and the hobbies to support these toys! Where to begin? Well, let's get careers out of the way. They are both accountants, both worked in industry. John is now retired and only takes on a few special projects doing business improvement consulting. Linda, for 15 years, has been doing project accounting for engineering firms.
Their hobbies include scuba diving, which they say they have hung up their BVs (bouyancy vests) and fins. Of course there is bicycling. Although this is their first BAC ride they have done 3 other cycling tours with other groups. And they have already booked a BAC ride for next spring. Plus, they are going to a bicycle maintenance week long course at United Bicycle Institute in Ashland, OR in September and have planned a biking trip to Hawaii in December.
Another hobby is building and flying an airplane. John build his own airplane from a kit. It is a single engine, low wing, side-by-side craft that has about a 4.5 hour range, although their personal comfort range is about half that time. The longest flight they have taken was to Alaska, although they have flown many places. John commutes to his special projects work by loading his folding bike onto the plane, flies then rides the bike to the office. Way cool.
They live in an airpark, think RV park but for planes. Their house includes a hanger and a taxi-way to the airport behind their house. How convenient!
And don’t forget motorcycles. Linda rides a Harley and John a Victory.
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