Auxerre and Troyes. May 4

From Saint Père we rode to Clamency which is right on the Nivernais canal. There was as usual a couple hills between the valley we were in and the one we wanted to be in, but nothing overly dramatic. 

Clamency was asleep when we got there at 1:30 in the afternoon on Monday and never really seemed to wake up. It is an odd thing about french towns, many businesses close on Monday especially those that are open on Saturday like retail shops downtown. Many businesses also close at lunch time, including sandwich shops and other places you might buy lunch. Lunch is from noon till 3:00 every day so get your lunch before lunch time or you don't get any lunch. We rode right through the center of downtown Clamency and didn't see a soul. So we called: Il y a quelqu'un? Is anyone here? But no one answered. We found some life at our hotel where they also had a very good restaurant so we got our lunch even though it was lunch time.

There is a tow path that is mostly paved all the way to Auxerre along side the Nivernais canal. The ride to Auxerre was excellent except that the canal wasn't as clean as I had imagined. Many of the rivers and canals in France have high loads of sewage and agricultural run off. The canal Nivernais is one of them,  certainly not the worst but still it was nice to have a breeze blowing the interesting smells away from our side of the canal.

Auxerre was a great place to visit on a bike. The path went right to the center of the city along the park like canal. The city itself is very nice with tons of things to see and do. The main tourist office was alongside the bike path and there was a place to park our bikes. It was like they were trying to make us feel welcome. 

The road to Troyes was a bit more challenging because of the weather, windy rain, and lots of hills. The roads also meandered around the biggest hills and out of the way to visit each of the smallest towns so in order to cover the 45 km from to Troyes we ended up riding 80 km. We did get to vist an abbey and had a nice picnic in a bus shelter so it wasn't all bad but we were a little tired and cranky when we finally arrived in Troyes. We got an awesome apartment here so we can cook our own food, I think mayby we will stay an extra day.

Maybe I should do something like this with the Hudson.

I think it is called a lavoir, a place to wash ones things and perhaps ones self.

I just got rained on so I don't need a bath.

This was a cool road through part of a national forest. I think we saw two cars over an 18 km stretch.

I could use a hair cut but I don't want to end up looking like either of these gentelmen.

We saw Misery ahead, so we turned.

Happily the route went through Merry shortly thereafter.

There ain't no money in farming in France either, or so I have heard. 

Yoly using the refections to her advantage in this photo.

The hole in the rock looked heart shaped on the way by but it never really turned out for the camera.

Auxerre a nice town.

Even in the rain.

The view of the expanding town and farms.

Cadet Rousselle, the guy who inspired parts of the french national hymn Le Marseillies, the original song, mocks him thoroughly was popular among the troops of the era. The troops from Marrseille sang the song when they occupied Paris on 30 July 1792.

The photo doesn't really capture the scene, mayby we should have used 3D mode.

Captured the cat with the very next shot.

Ten beams, one for each of the ten virgins who accompanied the body of Saint Etienne to be buried in Auxerre as was his wish. The cathedral gradually built up around his tomb and now features 4 of the 5 ten beam coupulas that exist in europe.

Yoly just about finished reading the braille on a tactile display of the highlights of Auxerre.

Rue de Horologe 

Gothic painting in its original form on a wall.

Romanesque painting on the cieling. 

A tall church.

With intricate details added to the keystones of the arches.

Downward looking faces from the capitals atop the pillars.

The Burgundy region includes the Chablis region, since we rode through the town of Beaujou in the Beaujoulais region (also included in the Burgundy region) we felt we should ride through Chablis as well. We drank both wines and prefer the Chablis. Chablis was almost on the way to where we were going and the lady at the tourist office said it was nice so it wasn't a big deal.

Here we are.

Good spot for a Picnic in Chablis.

Ligny le Chatel was the destination for the day, a pretty little town in its own right. A quick walk on the rain after dinner before settling for the night.

We kept our bikes in the barn.

Courtyard of the hotel.

The big abbey of Pontigny, the chapel on the side is big enough to fit a Cat 797 off road truck, just need a bigger door.

Inside the big abbey.

Long entrance of the abbey.

"It is forbidden to beg in the department of Aube" sign posted at the city hall.

Windy, rainy and up hill both ways ;)