September 29. Auxerre to Cravant. 22.76 km. Ouchy feet.

We headed out in the morning and get about 100 meters when Ken finds a cafe for his morning coffee.  None of us complain about this morning ritual because a caffeinated Ken is a happier Ken☕️

Ken is checking out the cannabis vending machine. Pretty sure he didn’t get any. I don’t think.

Misty walk out of town as we head down to the Yonne River / Canal du Nivernais to begin walking. 21 km ahead of us as there was nowhere closer to stay. But it’s all flat canal walking. We think.

In protest of violence against women.

Peter and I like the misty spiderwebs. I think I took a bazillion photos of them.

That will be us in another week – on a boat! Which made us question why we weren’t on a boat now?!?

River heights during years of flood.

We believe this is a canal distance marker to Paris…the Yonne and canal were heavily used to float logs and firewood to the Seine River and into Paris.

Kayaking club.

Lots of fishermen.

Finally brought the Bugsnaxx out again for a photoshoot.

I swear I saw this same hotel barge  in 2022.  6 staff for 12 passengers, private chef, wine tours, about $8000 per person. Ken?? Yes???

Passion fruit with a stink bug / shield bug. Scott says they are hemiopterids. Not that I asked him.

He got a little hissy but is an amateur compared to our Canada geese. Honk honk!

Firethorn. Gorgeous.

Flock of honkers.

OMG! Look at this ivy covered house. I wants!!!

Ken is the little orange blob on the left, helping the lock-keeper close the lock.

Food is often hard to find, so we were grateful for this restaurant.

I thought these tables and benches were pretty cool.

Ken thought that was me, bending over. Grrr.

A random artist museum. Enlarge the wierd white thing on the right.

Peter wanted me to post this picture of this Queen Anne’s Lace growing alongside the canal. Since we have a lot of it in the upper field along our driveway, it made him a little homesick.

I spend time rescuing slugs and caterpillars and bugs from murderous cyclists on the tow path.

Tiny common wall lizard on the moss.

Lock-keepers used to live in the ecluse (lock) houses and some of them had very elaborate and well-loved gardens. Now, most of them sit empty or are just places for lock-keepers to hang while waiting for the next bateau.

It’s owners were gathering walnuts and he kept trying to visit me.  Which of course I didn’t mind at all. But they kept coming and taking him away. Meanies.

This small plane was doing takeoff and landing laps.

Finally reached Cravant, which is back on the Via Campaniensis. Although Auxerre to Vezelay is also a Camino route, the Yonne Compestelle.  We are all very tired by now, especially Peter who is sadly having all kinds of foot issues, which is ruining the walk for him.

No photo but why? WHY? do we have to walk up a huge hill to our house for the night EVERY single time?!? Heavy sigh curse whine.

Once in the house, Peter won’t leave. But Ken, Scott and I headed back down the hill to the only café in town. Luckily, they served food. And beer. Maybe not in that order of priority in Ken’s mind. Big plate of excellent fries, a croquet monsieur for me, and we brought home a pistachio drumstick for Peter. Pistachio is a very popular flavor here, which Peter is very partial to.

They serve ketchup and mayo with their fries. Down with mayo. Yuck. Those are biigg bottles.

Ceramic beer pulls. For decoration only.

Back up the hill to commiserate with our feet which were complaining bitterly about the 23 km day. Oh, well. Only 10 km for each of the next three days.