After two days and more than 160km along the canal path, it was a bit of a shock to find ourselves detouring through the countryside to reach Nantes, our stop for the night.

Thankfully, the route into the city was well signed, and we rolled straight to our hotel with time to spare—enough to wash a few things and head out for a look around. We did a bit of sightseeing and reflected on the journey so far, including an unexpected run-in with a goose along the way.

Somewhere between the canal and the cobblestones, we also replayed how I ended up with a rather severe haircut from the night before.

Compared to our previous stops, Nantes was buzzing. A few drinks at a café and a good meal later, we’re feeling ready for the next leg—out to the coast and our first night by the sea.