There is so much more to Cognac, yet at the same time so little as it is all about the distilleries, however with Tours you have both the old and new, in theory satisfying both locals and tourists alike. Still, this counts for little until you have moved from one to the other.

Before we talk about charging the car and ABRP (A Better Route Planner) being over cautious, there was the need to head to a near by distillery where much of my parent’s cognac had come from. Jean Balluet. He is a small producer of some renown and his products are good. Finding the distillery was difficult as the only landmark was a near by châteaux, which is on a different street and the only hint of the correct building was a small name plaque. Fortunately we had just driven past it when Mrs Balluet came out, opening the gate, to help guide in a lorry carrying a still (not sure if it was new or used, or maybe a returned repair). The net result was we could not take a tour, but that was never the plan. Now I have drunk a few bottles of the Fine Cognac Très vieille réserve which my parents have previously bought for me, however buying directly from them (there is no visitor centre, just a tatty office) results in a big discount with the net result I came away with a bottle of Napoléon instead, as well as a bottle of pineau.

Now it was time to head to Tours. ABRP had advised two charging stops, though at the first one we realised only the second would be needed. Still a large charge then a top up meant no problems getting to the final required charger in France the next day.

Proceeding onwards we arrived in Tour, to find road works just before the hotel, the Best Western Central Hotel. This was the same hotel my parents had stayed in a number of times and is close to the Old Town. In some respects it is a bit style over substance, with lots of seemingly nice touches in the room that then prove to be badly thought out. Not long after arrival we went out for a walk in the newer area and to be honest this part of Tours does little for me. It is very modern and very generic.

Post a rest break back at the hotel we set off for the old town. Wandering the main drag we settled on Bouchon Tourangeau as a place to eat as it seemed reasonable and was French dining. Now the food was decent enough though not great, and we did get apologies for a screw up in our order, but the service and food delivery times were terrible. Not a place we could recommend though we did get a free desert to make up for the delays.

Deciding not to stay for a digestive we wandered back to the main square for a drink and got chatting to a couple next to us (think they were students though looking like they were in their late 20s/early thirties), Was great fun and in many respects made the night.

Old Tours has lots of character, but if you are in the area I would suggest eating else where.

Thus ended day 7.