Day 14 Part 2 - on bridges

(Continued from Part One.)

I crossed the Seine on a little BAC ferry to the little town of Quillebeuf-sur-Seine.

The BAC was the first form of transport that I've used, apart from my own two feet, since 21 April when Jennifer and I arrived in Paris. Ferries are within my rules. My rules permit ferries and lifts (elevators).

The left bank of the Seine is very different from the right. It never received a railway or other significant investment and is still very largely rural. I followed the quiet road which tracks the river in a sweeping arc. Gradually, more and more grass appeared in the middle of the road and I felt as isolated from anyone as I have at any point on the walk so far.

I passed under the Pont de Tancarville suspension bridge, built in the 1950's by the Eiffel construction company (yes, that Eiffel). I had to walk another mile away from the river in order to join the road which climbs the approach to the bridge. I began the long ascent.

I'd already checked my map which showed one of the GR long-distance footpaths crossing the bridge. But I was a little surprised at how narrow the pavement was. Once again, I was within a few feet of thundering trucks but this time the road bounced beneath me when a full load passed.

At the point where the main suspension cables depart from the deck of the bridge, I had to climb a few steps and walk along a narrow platform to get to the other side. Was this really open to the public as a pedestrian route?

I kept looking down and tried hard not to look suicidal. Lorry drivers were giving me odd looks and I realised that my periodic checking of the map on my phone must have looked like me sending a final desperate text message. I put the phone in my pocket and tried to look as happy and carefree as I could, for the sake of the drivers.

At the point where the cables joined the decks on the north side, I climbed another little platform to get across. At its far end I had to open a gate to get through and in closing it I noticed its sign: NO PEDESTRIANS.

I'd now crossed the Seine a total of ten and a half times since leaving the island on which Notre-Dame Cathedral sits in Paris. The picture is a photo taken from my hotel bedroon.

My walking verse for the day was Psalm 26.3, "For your steadfast love is before my eyes and I walk in faithfulness to you."

It was a great reminder, on a day which I began in a fed-up mood, to keep my head up, to focus on God's goodness and to simply walk.

"Lord, thank you for your steadfast love. Forgive me when I close my eyes to it. Amen."