Camping La Grappe d'Or, Meursalt

Tuesday, 24th April 2018

Sunny with a few clouds today, 18C when we leave Tain-L'Hermitage at about 08:30.

We had been intending to head for Vichy today, but, Robin and Ruby gave us a glowing recommendation for a site at Meursault, Camping La Grappe d'Or, N46 59' 8.5" E4 46' 7.00". It so happens we had a previous recommendation for the same place, from a couple in an Autotrail, heading north a couple of days ago. 

Even although our route takes us through Lyon, or at least on the Lyon Ring Road, it is 156 easy miles.

The site at Meursault lives up to the recommendations, it is beautifully located on the edge of the village, among Vineyards.

However the praise is somewhat tarnished, when we meet with the "other" couple who recommended the place, (the Autotrailers as we christened them). They have been here since they left Tain-L'Hermitage, but, apparently, they were burgled last night, along with several other Motorhomes / Caravans. 

They had money and jewellery stolen, while they slept!

Despite this rather off-putting information, we book in for a couple of nights.

Although the site is not in the ACSI book, as far as we can see, they accept our ACSI card, and charge ACSI prices (15Euro/night, including EHU).

Unusually for a French, or indeed mainland Europe Campsite, they want paying upfront.

There are, according to the information leaflet, numerous cycling opportunities.

Wednesday, 25th April 2018

We are much further North now, and, the weather reflects this, 12C this morning, with a high of 20C, with blue skies.

Good cycling weather, so, we follow one of the several signposted cycle tracks, through the vineyards to Beaune, via a couple of small "wine villages".

The cycle tracks are excellent, good surface and traffic free, but, despite the overall "flatness" of the landscape, the route is more than a little "up and down".

Despite the "ups" Kathleen made it all of the way without having to get off and walk, sadly, not without complaint however!

I offered my usual advice "if you save your breath for peddling rather than moaning, you will have no problem". Don so quietly, from a distance of course, no toll me.

There are many people working in the vineyards, mostly, it would appear (I have zero farming knowledge), ploughing up weeds from between the rows of vines, using specialist tractors.

But, we also come across this chap, doing it "the old fashioned way" with a horse and plough.

Beaune is a beautifully preserved small French town, with the usual church, dating back to the middle ages, (uninterrupted by Henry VIII).

There is also a market in full swing, to keep Kathleen occupied.

There and back is just short of 14 miles, which is a little more than the 8km (5 miles) each way, in the information leaflet, presumably, we went "off route" at some point.

Thursday 26th April 2018

A much cooler day today, 10C in the morning, and only rising to 18C, by lunch time, brisk wind from the North.

Working from the leaflet supplied by the campsite, we cycle along the cycle route in the opposite direction to yesterday, ie, to Santanay.

Even more "up and down" than yesterday, or, perhaps, our legs had not yet recovered from yesterday.

The wind, it appears, is blowing in our face on the way there, so, promises to give us a helping hand on the return.

But, on the way back, appears to have turned a little, and is blowing from the side or, in our faces again. Proves that God has a sense of humour I suppose.

Just under 20 miles there and back, refreshments in Santenay and Banana Split in Meursault.