To Joigny

June 6, 2024

An easy day on dedicated tracks beside the Yonne River

Last nights meal in the restaurant beside the hotel was not memorable for its quality

We both slept well Because of a short distance and a fairly late check in we took our time over breakfast and didn’t get going until after 10am. The route out was so easy we were almost straight away put on a paved cycleway beside the river and it was to stay like this for nearly all of the day. I must say it is very relaxing not to have to worry about traffic. The conditions underfoot were excellent to

We reach the Chemine de Haulage and the conditions were to continue like this

Corn is just beginning to appear which seems very late to us

There were locks along the way and as always it makes us think of our friends Rosemary and John who know these waterways so well

We were riding quietly along at one stage then suddenly a vaste number of children cam e in the opposite direction. They were all riding well and wearing their high viz vests. There must have been well over 100 of them accompanied by 5 or 6 teachers. As polite little French children they all said Bonjour Madam as the went past me

We enjoyed watching swans and were delighted to hear frogs croaking

We aware approaching Villneuve sur Yonne with this lovely stone bridge and a barge that rather reminds me of Petronella

As we approached Villneuve sur Yonne we began to dream of coffee ( probably more importantly a place to sit on other than a bike seat. We saw umbrellas out so in we went but no it was only ‘Pour manger’. The man was delightful though and directed us up into the lovely main street. Through the old gates and we were back in time in the Grand Rue and most importantly there was one of those fast disappearing things a PMU where we could sit down and once more start getting used to drinking a tiny French coffee

Through the gates and our bikes are parked

The view from the path with great looking agricultural country

Ken loves broad beans and always grows a lot so he was delighted to see these

This scarecrow moved in the light breeze

We were pretty hungry when we arrived and it was about 10 to 2. We spotted a restaurant across the road and had our usual problems crossing the road. It was just after 2 when we got there. The other patrons were eating up large and the food looked good. But oh no the patron looked at us and announced it is after 2 the kitchen is closed. Those around us continued to have more courses, we had yet another coffee and a tiny biscuit.

Off to our very fancy hotel. It is 5 star and highly inappropriate with assorts of extras like a spar, swimming pool and spar. They had upgraded us to a very fancy room with a beautiful view - may be it was our dress code ! There was a packet of chips and two biscuits in the room Ken has now found a supermarket so we wont starve

It may be 5 star but the internet is appalling

Today's ride: 35 km (22 miles)
Total: 137 km (85 miles)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	11
Comment on this entry	Comment	6

Steve Miller/GrampiesShorter, flatter days are better for aging joints. Hoping your meal search gets more successful in the days to come.
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4 months ago

Kathleen ClassenI often find the fancier the place the worse the internet. Your room view was fabulous though.
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4 months ago

Scott AndersonI have good memories from Joigny. We stayed here our second night of our first European tour thirty years ago, ending the day with a picnic meal on the bank of the river.
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4 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Scott AndersonA highly inappropriate hotel for us! The rest of the guests were I think Influences. We had fun though and enjoyed this lovely town which we visited years ago
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4 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Steve Miller/GrampiesNow on flat short routes and we are finding food!
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4 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Kathleen ClassenYou are so right
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4 months ago