Along the way, we frequently pass houses on the canals where the lock keeper stays or lives, frequently decorated beautifully and with a resident lock keeper. This one had a sign which said Rue du Paradis, which means Paradise Road, a sweet name that really fit this place.
Today had its share of riding along canals, but also overland through fields of ripening sunflowers, hayfields cut and baled, new potato plants and other crops. France is an agricultural country with many smallish farms growing diverse crops.
On the EuroVelo 6, we also encounter a first: a free e-bike charging station. God knows we see plenty of e-bikes but this is the first charging station and rest stop that we encounter.
There are various sweet views along the way, including more bikes as planters and we see lots more lily pads with swans on this section.
And then…the town of Dole. As we approach, a huge cathedral juts dramatically from the town. We take some pictures and then set up camp, meeting a charming guy from Cornwall named Martin in the process – a musician and teacher who is on his way back home to Cornwall from Germany, given a couple week hall pass from his wife and 3 kids to do it by bike. We share dinner and conversation with Martin at a restaurant serving pizza and salad a stones throw from the cathedral and then get to bed! Tomorrow we’ll go to Besançon for a couple days and stay in an apartment. We’ve ridden 280 miles this week and need a break!
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