Chalons en Champagne to St Diziers - via the Canal Marne sur Saone

I'm back in the saddle and ready for a few more blog entries.

As you know my arse was a bit tender for a while.  Now it's really sore from the good kicking I've received from folks telling me to get on with it and keep going.  You were all right of course, and while my direction has changed a little, I am back on the bike and headed south to Lyon along the Canal Marne sur Saone.  This canal connects further south with another one, leading right through to Burgundy and out to Atlantic... I think I have that correctly but feel free to enlighten if you think otherwise.

Anyway, I chose the canal because is level, safe and lovely altogether and it's really hard for me who can barely tell gauche from droit, to get lost.  I can pull off at any village for a coffee and I have the added bonus of encountering boats every few kms.  Yesterday I made quite a distance - I don't care to guess how far but I was riding for over 8 hours.

It was an entirely pleasant day in any case - warm, sunny and simple.  I arrived late in St. Diziers, but finally landed at the friendly and comfortable Hotel Francois and slept the sleep of the dead for about 8 hours.

Aside from grinding my knees and a few gears, I encountered some interesting people along the way, including the painter below and a couple from Belgium driving a really nifty car - a super sexy looking Tesla electric car - sorry no photo of that.

And now, fuelled with croissant and coffee I'm ready to get back on the tow path and head south for a few more hours of cycling.