A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.
4th July, Auxerre to Clamecy. 85km, avg 16.6km, max 43.4
The European Bike Express bus had dropped me off near the motorway just north of Auxerre at about midnight and I'd booked into the F1 Hotel because they had a ground floor room and would let me put my bike in it with me.
The next morning I'd got pedalling by about 6.30, had found the River Yonne (later the Canal du Nivernais), and, more importantly, already bought croissants aux amandes. It was a cloudy but pleasantly warm start.
At the start of the Nivernais, and indeed at a few other points, the cycle path left the towpath but the roads were small and very quiet. I just love wheatfields interspersed with wild flowers, especially poppies.