April 20, 2023
Normal transmission resumed
Fontainbleau to Pont Sur Yonne
I was wide awake at 4am, succumbing to my jet lag, with no amount of counting of sheep likely to restore my slumber. Was I too harsh on Steve yesterday? is Lichtenstein small? Would a bike with square wheels work?These thoughts went round and round in my head. I really do need more sleep.
John woke at the much more reasonable hour of 7.30 and we were out the door not long after 9.00. After the obligatory croissant and noisette (macchiato French style) we rolled out past the Fontainebleau Chateaux.
Chateau Fontainebleau is one of the biggest and the most furnished chateaux in France with 1500 rooms and the only chateau that was lived in by every French monarch for almost 8 centuries. Along with its renaissance masterpieces and it’s 130 hectares of surrounding park and 3 historic gardens including the biggest parterre in Europe it truly justifies its 5 star rating on Air BnB and Josephine Fontainebleau is of course a super host. It is a rare find but unfortunately a minimum 2 night stay ruled us out.
It was another clear crisp morning with blue skies and a brisk easterly keeping the temperatures in the low teens. After a few wrong turns and backtracking we left town and headed onto some muddy tracks through a birch forest and then on through an industrial estate.
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We’ve left Ile de France and are now in Burgundy riding through classic French villages, with canola fields creating a swathe of yellow stretching as far as the eye can see. Finally a chance for a genuine tour do France shot.
The clouds have rolled in and the temperatures dropping noticeably, so we hoover down a baguette and a raisin scroll before heading out on a path following the River Marne.
By now it’s about 5 degrees and it is freezing on the bike so we pull up stumps a little early and find a nice little 1200 bedroom place in Pont Sur Yonne. It’s noticeable how much friendlier people are now we’ve left the big smoke. Over dinner last night in the only bar open we had an interesting conversation with the few patrons in there who spoke no English. We had intended to just have a few beers but they were so friendly we stayed for dinner as well.
Nathalie is a charming host (also a super host) and her son drove us into town for dinner and also introduced us to the bar owner and translated the menu for us. Turns out only schnitzel was available so the choice was easy.
Weirdly the skies cleared and the sun came out as we walked the 2 kms back to our house and the temperature gad gone back up to the warmest it’s been all day.
All in all a straightforward regular old day on the bike. It’s just what we needed!
Today's ride: 64 km (40 miles)
Total: 93 km (58 miles)
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