DAY 14 - JUVISY TO PONTHIERRY

Today we had another walk through the southeastern Seine-side suburbs without our backpacks.

We started where we had finished yesterday, at Juvisy.  We followed the GR2 for the first 20 or so kilometres before taking a shortcut to avoid a bend in the river. It was a more pleasant route than yesterday, with less high-rise and more greenery.  On the way we saw lots of birdlife: swans, geese and ducks.

Swan

Geese

Ducks - good weather for them

Swans nesting

We crossed the river after about 15km to enter the town of Corbeil-Essonnes. Now a part of the larger Paris conurbation, Corbeil has a long history which is evident in its old churches, ramparts and cobblestoned streets.  We wandered around the town for a while, before going into a bar for a hot chocolate.

The medieval ramparts at Corbeil-Essonnes

 

Refreshed from the pause and the welcome hot chocolate, we resumed our way southward along the GR2. All day we had passed recreational joggers and cyclists, and, on the river, training rowers.  The weather continued to be quite cold, with intermittent showers.  Dismal to walk through, but good for artistic puddle photos.

Artistic puddle photo

Another artistic puddle photo

At Le Coudray-Montceaux we left the GR2 and headed inland towards Ponthierry, the end of today's walk (and the start of tomorrow's).

Waiting to cross at the school crossing - Le Coudray-Montceaux

Day:  14
Distance:  26.53km
Walking time:  5hrs 04mins
Elevation gain:  296 metres
Cumulative distance:  336.76 km