A good ride at around 85km in cool overcast conditions.Still on EuroVelo 6 next to the canal and river- nice and flat.We passed Roquefort but couldn’t find anywhere to buy cheese, so went on to Dole.

Dole is a beautiful small city – the birthplace of Louis Pasteur. We stopped at the tourist info to book our accommodation and then went to the supermarket where Jenny was overwhelmed by the range of cheeses (yes, we did buy Roquefort cheese, plus red wine and pastries – this is the life!).

After riding around Dole and seeing Pasteur’s birthplace we went on to St Jean de Losne where we found our accommodation at around 3pm. We had a picnic on the riverbank and then a few beers and coffee at the waterfront bar adjoining our accommodation.

Highpoints:

• a man playing the violin on the other side of the riverbank
• Dole Cathedral interior with huge paintings illustrating life of Christ up high on the nave.
• seeing boats going through the locks for the first time and chatting to some South Africans who were on the boat, on a canal boating holiday.
• Picnic on the river at St Jean de Lesne – alongside all the tourist barges.
• Enjoying the atmosphere at the riverside pub including French music – European tourists, our hosts with their dog, smoking while waiting on table – don’t give a damn in typical French fashion and cannot speak any other language. Numerous locals walking dogs – they really love their dogs here.
• No broken spokes today!

Lowpoints:

• The accommodation the worst yet – at the back up a narrow staircase off a dark hall  – all a bit seedy. However after spending some time at the cafe out front we warmed up to the place. We should have been warned by the very cheap price – next time we will ask the tourist info for something a little more expensive!