The morning dawned very brightly with a thick layer of frost on the ground. I sprinted across the white grass in my crocs, pyjamas and jumper to the shower room where surprisingly the water was lovely and hot. During breakfast I saw a man on the other side of the river with his gun, obviously out pig shooting. We saw quite a few shooters on the way here yesterday - must be pig shooting season so no walking in the woods!.
We travelled slowly through some beautiful countryside with lots of small villages and plenty of chateaux, some of them either run down or deserted. After three hours of travelling we finally arrived at Chaumont. The chateau is very cosy, having been renovated and used as a family home at the beginning of the 20th century. A rich young heiress (sugar industry) married a prince (no doubt penniless and looking for a rich wife) and bought the chateau in 1877. They renovated it and lived there until 1938 (he died in 1917) when the heiress sold it to the State as she was by then bankrupt. 
The dining room!
We were going to visit the chateau at Amboise but ran out of time so went to a cafe and had a cup of coffee instead, which was the best cup of coffee since we arrived in Europe. We stayed with our friend Jackie in the camping ground in Amboise last April. The following pictures were taken during that visit.
The chapel in the chateau at Amboise where Leonardo Da Vinci was buried- he actual lived in a house not far away (for he last few years of his life). Amazing!
The gardens of the chateau - how did they manage to get those box plants looking so perfect!
Back to today - Lunch consisted of baguettes filled with ham, cheese, lettuce and tomato that we ate in the warmth and comfort of the motor home. There was no mayonnaise due to the fact that we had not replaced the jar that we dropped whilst on the Eiffel Tower. Tonight it is spaghetti bolognaise, always satisfying after a day out. Ever onwards tomorrow. 
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