A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.
Map part one
This is an overview map of the first part of the journey down to the south of France, or rather when you click on this thumbnail map you'll see the overview. In fact the map doesn't quite include the first day, 84km, of the journey either, which was from Beaune to Cluny.The first day stats are: distance 82km, average: 17.2km
Morning has broken
The time stamp on the photo is 5.35am, a beautiful dawn light, no cars and great tarmac.
The open road
Just look at that tarmac! I started to become a real tarmac bore, I didn't realise that it could make such a difference. Firstly the roads, the drivers and the tarmac in France are all better than most everything in England; riding was a delight. But to return to tarmac, there were times that tarmac made with bigger stones, harder wearing perhaps, would reduce my speed by up to 10km/hr. At best smooth tarmac could make a slight incline seem like downhill. Oh, and tarmac in French is goudron I was told.
Voie Verte
Having cycled for a couple of hours I stopped for breakfast in Givry, my first bit of French, my first cafe au lait, and my first croissant. When I came out I noticed a sign for a voie vert to Cluny and this was it! A darn site better than our wagonway's in Newcastle. It was about 50km, level or even slightly downhill, a joy.