Road to Fontainebleau. May 9 2014

We did stay an extra day on Troyes but never made it to the outlet mall that makes Troyes famous. They claim that this is where the idea of the outlet malls started, back in the 1960s. There were lots of factories and they sold the end of line production only to the employees at little shops beside the factories. The little shops started selling to the general public, the factory outlet mall was born and the world is a better place because of it.

The first day out of Troyes seemed long because of the weather, it was humid and hot. The next day seemed long because of the weather, it was cold and rainy. The third day was just right with just enough rain to wash the bottom of Yoly's new fender and enough sun peaking through the clouds to brighten our moods. The name of the towns were Aix en Othe, Sens and finanly to Fontainebleau. 

There were a few hills along the way, but the thing that stands out most in my mind is the traffic. Its the folks just have to pass on the blind corners, no big deal if there is a cement truck coming around the corner, just push the cyclist into the wall. The worst was the guy towing his wife's car home during lunch break. With his wife at the wheel of her car a some sort of tow bar between the two cars, he decides he has to pass us in the center of town. It is one of those windy walled french village roads with enough space for two cars to pass but not enough for a sidewalk. He almost made it past when a car comes around the corner. The other car stops, I stop as close to the wall as I can and buddy and his wife get their two junkers through the gap. I am glad we only have a few more days cycling near Paris

A little pause at the church in a town on our way to Sens.

An old aqueduct on our route.

Lunch at this marbelous little park beside a church. The trees were wearing colourful knitted sweaters

And scarves.

Sens, the town that made no sense to us. After five hours of riding in the wind and a bit of rain on and off, the last thing we want to do is to wait three hours for the hotel to open at 6:00pm. I guess we never quite understood every business' schedules. Oh well,  c'est la vie en France.

We decided to do what we always do, visit the town, take pictures, go to the local church and be glad we arrived safe and sound in yet another town.

This is no ordinary graffiti on the walls. These are designs made with mosaics, glass and nice rocks.

Passing by Moret sur Loing. 

Moret sur Loing, a church.

Still going through the town.

Painter Alfred Sisley used to paint in this town and made it famous, or perhaps the pretty town made him famous.