Pilgrims and the machine

The 12th century fresco of Christ in the cathedral at Nevers with 20th century stained glass in the windows below. Almost all the windows are of a modern design and the combination of medieval and new is really striking. The second photo looks down the gothic nave. 

And here is the cathedral seen from across the Loire, with the 19th century bridge on the left (not as fine as the early 18th century ones at Blois and Gien). 

From La Charité-sur-Loire to Nevers the GR we are on (we, as I have been joined by Tina and Honi) coincides with one of the four main routes across France that head for Spain and Compostella - the one coming from Vézelay. The path signs (suddenly better!) include a representation of a shell, the symbol of the Compostella pilgrims. 

'Are you too a pilgrim?' ask a French couple with large rucksacks as I sit on the church steps in La Charité waiting for Tina and Honi to arrive. (Well, through life..) South of Nevers the path follows the Loire lateral canal for a while and I am heartened by the progress made since I saw its start at Briare!

And then through fields and woods to Decize, where another important canal joins the river (Canal du Nivernais). Passing on the way The Machine. 

An old coal mining town - mining finished in 1975. The name comes from the horse-powered lifts in the mine shafts. We seem a million miles from the vines of Sancerre and Pouilly now.