To Tonnerre - Keeping up with Rudolf - CycleBlaze

June 8, 2024

To Tonnerre

Another very short day with some interesting meetings

The hotel we were staying in is only 2 star but it was absolutely fabulous.  We ate in the restaurant last night and had an absolutely fabulous 3 course meal - I have seldom seen Ken eat up so heartily.  The wine list was something that would have made our son in law very envious. It include premier crus and grand  crus  Chablis of very impressive years. We settled for an Aligote, a white Burgandy wine, that is hard to get in NZ and more suited to our price range. The meal we choose consisted a a delicious fish quiche, a main course of rabbit then Ken had cheese while I settled for a desert of orange and chocolate.  We were sad to see that there was only one other couple eating there.  They too were cyclists and from the Netherlands starting today doing a circular route in Burgandy which will take them back to St Florentine in 10 days time.  Unlike us they do not believe in using any GPS navigational aids but have a map and said they will rely on signs

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This was delicious
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Breakfast this morning was the usual skimpy French breakfast but ou host gave us a couple of bananas to take on our way.  Because of the tiny distance we had to cover we didn’t leave until check out time of 11am and then took our time and wandered around this beautiful little village, finding a boulangerie for lunch provisions and generally enjoying it.  Back to the canal was a delight after the slog up and we were soon spinning along on one more a perfect surface

Through the first lock
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Sal and Gus are also from the Netherlands and also doing a circular tour of Burgandy
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The most interesting person we met was Alex. Alex is just finishing a degree in Environmental Engineering.  For the last part of his degree he had to take a trip for at least two months looking at what different countries were doing to protect the environment   He set off 8 months ago and has been all over Europe even camping in Sweden  in the middle of winter.  For most of the time his girlfriend has been with him. They wild camp all the time. Some way to test a relationship!  Now he just has to write a report of it. His degree will be finished and he can look for a job. We talked for ages and were fascinated

Alex - see his massive amount of gear
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There is so much weed in the canal that the lock keepers have to clear it around the gates so they shut properly
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Drinking from the canal overflow
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We reach the Port de Plaissanceat Tonnerre
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Reaching our Hotel it was still very early but we were let in straight away.  The bikes were stowed away, everything put to charge then we went for our reward

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Looking up the main street A wedding is going on in the church
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The reward
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Then Ken got an even greater reward along came tis procession

A single cylinder Deutz
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A Samica French. I (Ken) haven’t seen one for years
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International harvester
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Another Samica
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A fairly old 2 cylinder Deutz
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A great ending to the day

Today's ride: 30 km (19 miles)
Total: 197 km (122 miles)

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Suzanne GibsonWeren't you lucky to catch the tractor parade!
We also stayed at Hotel du Centre when we were in Tonnerre three years ago, and quite agree that it was excellent.
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6 months ago
Kathleen ClassenA tractor parade. How absolutely wonderful! I still remember sitting on one of Ken’s in NZ. I remember it was bright red and beautiful. I have been admiring tractors ever since.
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6 months ago