First, a follow-up to yesterday’s ride. I found this article that discusses the two mile tunnel on the Burgundy Canal that starts at Pouilly-en-Auxois. It’s full of interesting facts and photos, well worth a read. In particular it’s remarkable to learn that in the early years barges were pulled through manually by men pulling on cables because the tunnel was too narrow for horses.
Another layover day, another day ride. Conditions are excellent for it - the rain has moved on and the temperature has dropped by about ten degrees. János is staying back to study the village, but the rest of us convene at ten in front of the cathedral.
Today’s is an out and back to the north to no place in particular - I was just looking for a quiet route of the right length with just the right concentration of hills and features of interest. Undramatic but pretty perfect - very little traffic and a nice mix of canal paths and farm roads. The video tells it all really, but we’ll include a few photos anyway just to round things out.
Video sound track: Que Reste t’il, by Cyrille Aimee
And another. Different shingles, different doors, different vegetation, different states of restoration or disrepair. There’s enough variety that they don’t lose their interest. It’s like an Easter egg hunt.
There’s very little traffic on the canal today - I think we only saw two boats navigating it. Perhaps because there are so many locks and it’s such a slow journey?
We left the canal for this side path, quite rough at first. I stopped to check the map to be sure we were going the right way, but then a text arrived from Rachael (ahead, as usual) letting me know that the surface would improve quickly. I looked around thinking she must be watching from somewhere nearby, but it was just coincidental timing - she’s a mile ahead of us.
János joined us late in the ride because he wanted to try his luck fishing this morning first. He’s trying to convince Suzanne of the size of the one that got away, but she knows him too well and isn’t biting.
