"Love the journey, not just the destination"

June 18th and 19th

The weather is really heating up this week so we try to get out and ride in the morning so we're done before the high temperature hits.  We have ridden many different sections along the Burgundy Canal and we are trying to complete the circuit this year since they plan to close the canal next year.  Today we rode from Pouilly-en-Auxois to Pont Royale for 42km.  The Port at Pont Royale is a great stopping point for lunch or a coffee. 

We always ride by the Chaeau d'Eguilly and admire it from afar but his year we rode across the bride to get a closer look.  There is a sign that says "private" so we decided it must be privately owned and not open for tours.  We walked a little too close to take photos but luckily no one was around.  I was curious about it so I googled it to get more information.  It was constructed in the 12th century and was named a monument historique by the French Ministry.  I looked at the reviews from TripAdvisor and the most recent ones were awful.  One said they toured and it was depressing and another said the owner came out and knocked one of them to the ground.  I'm sure glad we didn't encounter the owner!

With no reservation for dinner we walked into the square where there are a few places that don't take reservations.  At Le Parisian we each ordered an entree, oeufs-en-meurette for Jay and gazpacho for me.  Our main courses didn't really photo well but were tasty as well. We always sit outside near the fountain but this year it seems to be in bad repair and not working.  In years past it's been very pretty in the evening with changing lights reflected on the water and one year someone put soap in it and bubbles were overflowing for days.  We asked the waiter about it and he said that after the big soccer win by Paris San Germain fans went wild in celebration (which we experienced in Paris) and the next morning the fountain mechanism was bent over.  He had quite a chuckle over it as did we but it's kind of sad that it doesn't work anymore. 

Chateau d'Eguilly

Lockhouse on the Canal

One of our favorite places to ride is along the Doubs River.  We drove to Dole, parked at the  train station and took the train to Saint Vit.  Riding back toward Dole was only 35km but on a very warm day we were glad the journey was over before it was any hotter.  We parked our bikes along the beautiful canal and ate our picnic lunch before stopping for coffee at a nearby cafe before riding back to the car.  

An abandoned train tunnel

Lunch with a view in Dole 

Cafe stop

Chocolate Fondant for Dessert