We a free day in Semur-en-Auxois, so Scott sent out an email before dinner last night asking for takers on a ride he’d planned. I was game, so I took a look at the RWGPS profile – 41 miles; three categorized climbs of 1.7 to 3.2 miles, gradients over 16%. A little too much for me and, as it turns out, for all of us as Scott admitted a bit sheepishly at dinner. So, a new route was planned – an out and back that included some nice terrain through the countryside and a few stretches along the Burgundy Canal.
We agreed to meet at the Collégiale Notre-Dame church at ten. Suzanne and Janos and I rendezvoused in our hotel courtyard a little before ten – both Suzanne and I were cycling while Janos had decided to stay in town to look around and catch up on some things he needed to do. The weather had gotten quite a bit chilly and the skies also looked threatening, so after reconsidering what I’d brought, I dashed upstairs for a rain jacket and we headed to the church, almost on time. Once assembled, we followed Scott out of town and within a few minutes were rolling through outskirts of Semur, looking a bit nervously at the dark clouds to the north. But to patches of sunlight were visible towards the southeast, so we carried on and hoped for the best.
Scott leads us past the Collégiale Notre-Dame church and out of Semur-en-Auxois
We reached our friend the Burgundy Canal a little more than seven miles into the ride, and followed it north until our turn-around point in Courcelles-lès-Montbard, sometimes along the canal path, sometimes through small towns and countryside. The threat of rain had dissipated, and the day had warmed to about the mid-6os. Layers of clouds filled the sky, but sunlight shone through the ever increasing patches of blue, casting swaths of light across the surrounding field. The pace was leisurely, and though we each continued at our own pace, there was time for extended stretches of side-by-side cycling and chatting along the canal.
Rachael is a bit concerned we all might miss the tricky turn-off to the canal - not a problem for Suzanne
We gathered for lunch in the small commune of Courcelles-lès-Montbard, finding a grassy spot near the town fountain that seemed a perfect spot for our picnic. And it was – we spread out under a tree with our bread, cheese, ham, raisins and other food treats, sharing stories and laughter. We’d been there quite a while when a young girl of about ten years approached us, expressing great concern. I couldn’t understand what she was saying, but she was clearly distressed and seemed to want us to follow her. I thought maybe the cat that had passed by earlier was injured, but when she pointed to the source of her concern it turned out to be a sign indicating that we should stay off the grass. So much for our picnic! Her father, we presume, emerged from across the street, waving her off and telling us it was okay to stay where we were. Obviously, it was time to head back to Semur-en-Auxois. The return ride passed quickly, as out and backs often do. We had just left the canal for the final stretch back to Semur when Janos appeared! Great smiles and high five ensued, as the group of five was re-united for the ride back into town.
Finding an open restaurant on a Monday in France can be a challenge, but we managed to secure a reservation at a nearby spot for what turned out to be a quite enjoyable meal - the food was great and the company exceptional –a fitting end to the day.
