Fog, Flowers and Forests
France Stage 02 – Corbeil-Essonnes to Saint-Mammès 60 Km (Sun 10 June 2018)
Weather: 17⁰C min – 25⁰C max, overcast, foggy
“One day I want to live in a place where they only ride bikes.” ~ Unknown
Like yesterday I followed the Seine River and was enveloped in fog for the whole journey. But that is about where the similarities end, because today’s ride was much more scenic and was incident free (Murphy’s law was not in operation today).
Even the Seine looked more appealing, taking on a silver sheen instead of the normal muddy brown. Lots of cyclists and joggers were out for their early morning lungful of fresh air, all bidding me a cheery bonjour as they passed. How could I help but have a good day!
It was so pleasant just pedalling along, looking in awe at the magnificent riverside mansions and admiring the colourful, well-maintained gardens. Most of the villages display a ville fleurie (flower town) sign indicating that they are participants in the Ministry of Tourism’s very successful initiative that has been in operation throughout France since 1959.
The only negative aspect today was the poor state of the paths and narrow roads alongside the river. Even where sealed they were crumbling and over-patched, making it quite an art to avoid the potholes and puddles. There were long stretches of compacted dirt and gravel too, particularly through the forests. After a while I decided to detour inland through the back streets of the charming little villages.
Notwithstanding the greyness of the day and the state of the riding surfaces, the scenery along the way made it a very pleasant and easy ride. Before I knew it I had reached the tiny town of Saint-Mammes and was enjoying a cup of Twinings English breakfast tea made for me by my host on arrival.
I’m glad you’ve shaken off Murphy’s Law! Hopefully luck & blue skies are ahead for you.
Unfortunately there is still a blanket of fog this morning. Maybe I will have to wait until I get to London before I see the sun!
So pleased to see Fontainebleau highlighted on your map. However, you seemed to have passed it to the right. Fontainebleau is a very pretty town. The Chateau of Fontainebleau was the favourite residence of Napoleon, his hunting lodge full of richly adorned renaissance elegance and beautiful gardens, which are surrounded by a picturesque lake. There is a lovely walk, or bicycle track if you like, alongside the canal between the Palace and the Carmelite school in Avon. Pere Jacques founded this school and was later arrested by the Nazi’s for giving refuge to some Jewish boys who attended the school. He is called a “Martyr of Charity”. The film director Louis Malle in 1987 paid tribute to his former headmaster in the autobiographical film, Au revoir les enfants – a very good film, but as films go, it is not entirely accurate. It was at this Chateau (at the Farewell Courtyard and “Horseshoe” Staircase) that Napoleon bid farewell to his small remaining troups before going into exile on the Isle of Elba.
Pity I didn’t have time to get to Fontainebleau, which sounds very interesting. The ride was already 60 Km so it would have been too much of a detour.
You can create your back garden into a bike path.(do you like that)?.
Hope you will get some warmer and brighter days. We are having cold days and some days rain.
Today sunshine. Keep on riding and be safe.