August 16, 2024 to August 17, 2024
Back to Paris
We spent a fairly lazy day yesterday in Noyers – visiting friends, bingeing on the latest episodes of “Emily in Paris” and taking a long walk through the countryside surrounding the village. It was a wonderful day just hanging out with friends in small, medieval town in Burgundy.
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As much as I wanted to spend a few more days in Noyers, I had places to go and people to meet - it was time for Vivien George and I to return to Paris. We each had reservations on the 2:36 train from Tonnerre, located about 15 miles from Noyers. Rains were predicted to arrive sometime after noon, but I had neglected to bring a raincoat and so, in the interest of staying dry, I rolled out of Noyers at just past eleven.
The first eight miles retraced my route to Chablis from two days ago. Though clouds had replaced the blue sky and sunshine, the roads were once again virtually free of traffic and the ride was quite enjoyable. There was little incentive to stop for pictures – I’d just passed this way and I was spurred on by predictions for afternoon rains. In fact, I was so focused that I arrived in Tonnerre not only dry and but with two hours to spare. I found a bench in a park adjacent to the station where I whiled away an hour before heading over to the station.
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The Tonnerre station sits on a rise above the street, with a set a stairs leading up to the station itself as well as each of the two platforms. After hauling up bike and gear, I plopped myself on a bench below an overhang and awaited both the rain and the train. The rain came first, then a long train with a short stop in Tonnerre. Information gleaned from the bike reservation site suggested there would be multiple bike cars, with bike space at capacity. Not knowing which of the bike cars would have sufficient space for Vivien George, I chose the one closest to my spot on the platform, near the front of the train. We were helped up by another cyclist already on board, and as the train departed I looked to secure VG in the bike space. It was full of bikes. As is usual in these situations, other cyclists readily pitched in to rearrange the bikes and make room for the newcomer – one fellow even folded up his bike and leaned it against his seat.
Needless to say, the TER bike reservation system is still a work in progress. The conductor scanned my ticket, but he did not check to see if I had the separate bike reservation. And I would guess that not all of the bikes on board had a reservation. But it all worked out, thanks in part to the helpful spirit of fellow cyclists.
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We pulled into Paris in a downpour and I was sopping wet by the time I'd crossed the city and arrived at my apartment. I took a hot shower and immediately started a load of laundry - in less than 36 hours I was leaving to spend a week visiting my friend Christine in Sète.
Today's ride: 19 miles (31 km)
Total: 2,033 miles (3,272 km)
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