Melay to Gy: 70km and 707m ascent
Today was beautiful. Having left the Meuse Valley yesterday, we had continued into the Valley of the river Anger. There are villages every three or four kilometres but all seem almost deserted, and in many almost every other house seems to be abandoned. All around us are huge fields of corn and wheat whilst each village has a beautiful big church but no congregation. Presumably the mechanisation of farming has driven the labourers to the cities and left the villages to fade. We have to carry food and lots of water as there are no shops or cafés along our route.
Still the villages have their special character, each house has a huge curved entrance behind which we can see tractors and other farm equipment – almost every home seems to have its own tractor.
The scenery of the Marne and Saône is magnificent – rolling hills disappearing into the distance with areas of woodland topping many hills. This made for very hilly cycling with sweaty, slow slogs up and deliciously cooling freewheeling descents. Wildlife is abundant and we have seen young deer leaping across mown fields, many red kites circling above and the occasional snake crossing the road.
In the afternoon we joined a cycle path along a canal of the Saône before crossing the river itself. There was a lovely marina of riverboats along the canal bank and we relished the shade. The weather is really heating up and we were delighted to arrive at our beautiful hotel and find an equally lovely pool.
Amazing effort both, you 200% deserve that swim. What a difference a week makes. We’re still very much with you in spirit, (and especially when I’m cycling the 10km to work on my electric bike every morning). Keep healthy and keep pedalling,
S&J xx