The Absoluut2 is one of the best barges for a serious barge-cycling cruise, because of the beauty and flexibility of the rural route with a wide range of cycling itineraries, and also due to owner's commitment to full support of the cycling cruise week, including mid-day picnics and "sag wagon" support, and the Absoluut2's large (14-passenger) van that accommodates up to 8 cyclists AND their bicycles inside the van (including bike boxes if needed to transport to or from Paris airport -- the ONLY barge in France that can easily accommodate bike-boxes). See sample cycling itinerary, below.

Absoluut2: Sample Cycling Cruise Itinerary
Burgundy: Auxerre to Nemours

NOTE - The following is the sample itinerary for regular cruises between Auxerre and Nemours. Cycling can be done each day, and the barge owner's cycling notes follow this sample itinerary.

Sunday
We meet you at your hotel in Paris at 14.00 hours, in our Mercedes coach and transfer to Absoluut2 moored in Auxerre. After a champagne reception & introduction to the facilities there is time for a fantastic walking tour around this ancient town. You will be transported to another time as we walk through the winding streets passed the well-preserved half-timber facades. Auxerre features some of the best gothic architecture in Europe with its churches, crypts and the clock tower.

Monday
A morning cruise down the Yonne River before lunch and an afternoon visit to the celebrated Chablis region for a wine tasting, then through the vineyards to Irancy to taste the Pinot Noir. Continuing to Cave de Bailly for a sparkling wine tasting and tour of the sandstone statues within the breath-taking caves.

Tuesday
This morning we visit St. Florentin on the Canal du Burgundy to visit a goat farm where they make Chevre cheese. Then on to Joigny with its fascinating architecture. Time to explore or play boule, and take in a spa appointment for the afternoon.

Wednesday
This morning we cruise to Villeneuve sur Yonne, home of King Louis XIII and celebrated actress Leslie Caron. We lunch by the quayside then continue on to the quaint medieval town of Sens. Here we visit the 11th century masterpiece that is St Etienne Cathedral and museum which features an impressive collection of Gallo-Roman antiquities and also houses Napoleon’s hat. Sens is a great town to walk around and enjoy the French atmosphere.

Thursday
Today we finish the Yonne River, cruise on the Seine River & start on the Canal du Loing ... a beautiful cruise to arrive at Moret sur Loing. We tour this village of flowers and towers made famous by impressionist painters Alfred Sisley and Camille Pissarro.

Friday
A lovely drive through the forest brings us to the stunning Château de Fontainebleau, home to 34 different sovereigns. We tour the state apartments including Napoleon 1st imperial inner apartment. After lunch we cruise along the canal to Nemours. All the locks today are manual, and you are invited to join in. It’s easier than you think and lots of fun.

Saturday
After a leisurely breakfast we return to the hotel of your choice or the airport.

For casual cyclists: Every day you can ride a bike along the towpath, in stretches of 1 to 5 miles before rejoining Absoluut2 in the next lock. Concerning more serious cycling, and this cruise route, the barge owner writes:

"In reviewing the different cruise routes that COULD be taken, I have looked at the cycling possibilities on the Auxerre - Nemours route, and think that this would be the very best itinerary/route, and consequently, that is why I recommend the itinerary (above). We could do Auxerre to Nemours or Nemours - Auxerre, depending on the week they choose to cruise anytime from June 17 through September 2007."

"I have done some research into cycling 'loops' in this area. There are several around 30-35 Km in length, where one loop could be cycled in the morning, followed by lunch and a spa on board, and then they could cycle to the afternoon's excursion. For full cycling days, leaving just after breakfast, we are happy to meet them mid-day en-route with a table / chef / waiter for a picnic lunch in a forest, and then they can cycle through the afternoon, returning to the barge late afternoon. Larger cycling loops can accommodate a full cycle day like this, without duplicating territory. During the cycling days we can provide a mobile phone to the lead cyclist, so that we could be contacted to provide a pickup, or supplies, or other 'sag wagon' support at any time during the cycle day. Also we can put 8 bikes in the back of the bus. and take them out or bring them back, so that may give us even more flexibility to support full-day cycling across an even broader range of cycling loops."

"If they bring their GPS navigator with French maps, we can program in these rides for the bike. That way one leader always knows where they are, and where they are going."

"One of the cycling segments that they could include during the Auxerre to Nemours route would be the Paris-Fontainebleau route. There is an excellent cycling-advice website at http://www.mayq.com. The cycling route from Paris to the Château de Fontainebleau is covered very well within the pages of this website at: http://www.mayq.com/Cycling_out_of_paris/Route_4_south/Route_4_south.htm."

The mayq.com website, which the barge owner passed along to us, is really quite exceptional, and the Paris-Fontainebleau cycling itinerary recommendation does give you a real sense of the route.