A memorable celebration of 60th birthdays!

Our group of 8 has just returned from a most memorable boat bike tour aboard the Fleur. Although our original tour through Burgundy was canceled in 2020, the Servicedesk worked overtime to accommodate a rebooking for Paris to Montargis. We found the communication and information pre-trip was prompt and detailed. Once onboard we found the hard-working crew of five under the leadership of Evert personable and efficient. The accommodation was comfortable and spotless, with plenty of cupboard space, good ventilation, and a well-appointed bathroom. The Covid protocols in place organized the eighteen guests in their own bubbles for seated dinner service and assigned specific breakfast times for an assisted service buffet. We appreciated the water and coffee dispensing machines, as well as the quantity and variety of snacks. The varied and delicious food was expertly prepared and presented by Loek, with a good selection of beer and wine available in a self-serve bar. Each guest kept their own tab with the total in Euros due at the end of the week. Although we thought we would be supplying our own wine and paying a corkage fee, we found the quality of wine by bottles or glass to be enjoyable, with the cost of alcohol averaging about 25 Euros per day (we drank way too much…) Now for the piéce de resistance, the cycling! We loved the daily routes through the French countryside and were impressed with the numerous tours, including Fontainebleau, the sculpture garden Jardin Bourdelle, and the Living Museum of Beekeeping. The terrain was moderate with the wind sometimes playing a role in the effort required to cycle the 40 to 50 km per day. Andre, our guide, was entertaining, informative, and encouraging. He scheduled timely breaks and was sensitive to the group’s pace. We thought that we would be cycling independently using the Ride with GPS app, but elected to remain with the group as we enjoyed Andre’s local knowledge, humour, and route variations. This tour left us wanting more, and we hope to return soon! Many thanks to Evert, Adwin, Loek, Sara, and Andre for making our stay extraordinary.