Canal de Bourgogne - Third Day

We started off along the trail, still over the tunnel.  When we rejoined the tow path next to the canal, there was a small outdoor display area with an old electric towboat that had last been used to tow barges through the tunnel in 1937.  It got power by means of a rod going to an overhead wire, rather like an electric bus or trolley.

David Towing Towboat

We then were able to go quickly down the canal – the wind had died, there was no rain, and the path surface was hard and smooth.  The skies were still gray however.

Canal Scene with Gerard, Tom, and Roger
 

Lock House Converted to a Home

We stopped for lunch in Pouillenay and had an undistinguished meal.  After lunch we wanted to visit the old village of Flavigny where they make Anis [and other flavors] hard candies, packed in an oval metal tin. These candies are famous throughout France.

Flavigny Church Interior

Unfortunately Flavigny was 5 km away, a large part of which was up a steep grade.  Everyone but Gerard did some walking. 

16th Century Church in Flavigny

 

Old Grange Converted to a Restaurant in Flavigny

Flavigny was an old walled village, somewhat touristy but picturesque.  We had a glass of wine, looked at some of the old buildings, and visited the factory to buy some of the candies.

Happy Bikers in Flavigny

We then set off for Alesia, the reputed [there is a good deal of controversy in some circles on this] site of the famous battle between the Romans under Julius Caesar and the Gauls led by Vercingetorix.  The first part of the trip was winding and steeply down, where David was still able to hit 42km.hour.  Made up a bit for the hard climb earlier. 

We headed for the museum at Alesia where sections of earthen walls as built by the Roman siege army were reproduced, along with wooden towers and various other measures designed to keep the Gauls at bay.  Several men dressed in period costumes also gave demonstrations of the tactics used by Roman soldiers to prevent enemy soldiers from penetrating the Roman formations.  Very disciplined and intricate requiring precise teamwork on the part of the Roman soldiers.

The museum gave detailed explanations of the growth of Roman control over the area and how the battle for Alesia unfolded over a couple of months.

We then headed for the town and our hotel about 15 km away.  That turned out to be a bit different. 

Weather Has Improved!

We were booked at Le Trianon in Montbard.  [Everything in the town appends ‘Alesia’ to the town name, including the train station, as we were a short distance  from the museum.]

The hotel turned out to be an adventure, more for the other three men than for David.  They always get a room together with three beds as it is considerably cheaper, whereas he always goes for a single just to ensure he does not disturb anyone in the night, and vice-versa.  Their room only had two single beds and when this was pointed out, the hotel ‘solved’ the problem by making up a third bed on a mattress on the floor!  After that we decided to eat dinner elsewhere and wound up at another hotel dining room down the street, where we had one our better meals on the trip.  David does not recall what everyone had, but the bill was 18 euros each for three excellent courses.  Our server knew what she was doing but evidently was very distracted.  We received two different first courses; she realized her mistake rapidly but we had already taken a bite out of the second thinking we had misunderstood somehow, so the restaurant had to make the plates entirely over for whomever they were intended.  After that she was a bit rattled even though we told her we were not upset.

Did 56 km for the day.