…I'm
picking up from where I left you in my last post, at St Rémy. Having made my trip to Montbard and back, I
didn't stop…
From St Rémy (Lock 67), I decide to cycle on. I'm heading north and towards the lowest point of the canal at Migennes, about 100Ks away - an no, I've absolutely no intention of convering that distance today! But, the sun is bright and high and the canal is in the shade - a perfect combination for a stress-free trip on the bike.
From St Rémy (Lock 67), I decide to cycle on. I'm heading north and towards the lowest point of the canal at Migennes, about 100Ks away - an no, I've absolutely no intention of convering that distance today! But, the sun is bright and high and the canal is in the shade - a perfect combination for a stress-free trip on the bike.
About
5 kilometers and three locks further on (Lock 70) is the bridge at
Rougemont. I stop and wheel the bike
across to the centre of the bridge. The
water kind of sparkles in the sunshine and there are a few people out with
picnics still enjoying a last glass of wine after lunch. On the other side of the bridge, I spot a
fabulous display of flowers at a canal-side property. A great excuse
not to peddle and have a gulp or two of water and take some pics.
Away
from the shade of the trees I can feel the searing heat of the sun on my face
and the backs of my legs. It's time to
move on. I want to get to
Aisy-sur-Armançon before turning back towards where the car is parked. It's just another lock (Lock 71) and another
bridge further on. And yes I know, the
numbering system of the locks is confusing isn't it? But we're in the département of Yonne
here so the lock numbers are suffixed with a Y to differentiate them from the
other locks with the same numbers that begin at Pouilly-en-Auxois and continue
south.
Aisy is another sleepy little
town. With a population of about 250 it
boasts a boulangerie and a couple of other small businesses along with an old
priory. I park the bike and take a
wander. The street I'm on is named
after a Marthe Saillard and I'm curious to know who she was and why the street
carries her name. Unfortunately,
there's no-one else around to ask. I
follow the silent street and find a wine merchant and the baker's, neither of which
are open. A handwritten note on the
door indicates the breadshop will open again at 16.30. I check my watch, that's almost an hour to wait.
River Armançon |
Back at the campsite I check
my map of the canal and my notes and do a quick count. I've covered a total of 20 locks in my two
weeks here. A few of them more than
once - well I like to be thorough and I can't see the point of rushing. So, that's another 169 locks to look forward
to for future visits!
I still don't know the
history of Marthe, despite several checks through encyclopedias and other
reference material once I returned home.
So, I will go back to Aisy at some point…
What an interesting and beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteHI Mason, it is - I spend as much time in France as I can. Can't wait to get back there once we can travel again. Thanks for visiting.
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