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Friday, 27th April 2018
Brilliant sunshine, and a promise of 22C today, but, we are off, heading further north, as we make our way slowly home.
I think I am right in saying, this is the first site I have ever chosen. Kathleen is normally "in charge" of site selection. Hopefully, it will measure up to her exacting standards!
We (well I), had some fun when packing to go. Kathleen hates spiders, and, as I dismantled the camping table, there was a rather large, brown, spider emerged. It scuttled off under some of the gear lying waiting to be packed, before I could "deal with it".
When Kathleen arrived to help (aka supervise), I did warn her about the spider, but, as usual, she did her own thing and began rummaging in the "gear". Sure enough, out came the spider. Sadly, I did not have the camera to hand to record her hopping about and screaming
Even if I say so myself, Les Ceriselles (N47.706384 E3.635451), Vincelles on arrival, looks like a good choice.
Very well kept site, friendly staff, an ACSI site, and only 15Euro/night, including 10amp EHU.
We arrive to sunshine and 20C, so, weather is kind.
Grass pitches, but, with "hardened" pitches for Motorhomes, just in case it is wet.
We try out our integrated barbecue, which came with our new van, for the first time.
Well, to be more precise, I try out the new barbecue, while Kathleen relaxes in the sun.
I have to admit, the barbecue is not a total success, a combination of shop bought kebabs, which are not unto scratch (Casino) and lack of familiarity with the equipment.
Next time will be better.
A stroll to the village, to check out the most important thing for Kathleen ie Mass times for the weekend, followed by a walk along the canal.
Saturday, 28th April 2018
The weather forecast is not good for today. It is dry and cool to start, with rain forecast by lunch time and only 14C.
We decide to cycle to Auxerre, which we estimate is about five miles away along the Canal du Nivernais.
Our calculations are clearly wrong, since we do an 18 miles round trip!
Most of the route is along tarmac surfaced cycle / walking route.
Not the best day we have had, weatherise, but, stunning scenery, and, when we eventually reach Auxerre, there is a free music concert on the river bank. A small
orchestra, playing classical music.
We make it back with minutes to spare, before the rain starts!, it would appear the weather forecast was exactly right.
Hopefully, the rain will have stopped before this evening, so Kathleen can walk to the church in the village, without getting wet.
Kathleen is awarded celebrity status at Church, when the Priest discovers she is a visitor from England, much to her embarrassment.
I spend what I suspect is a fruitless hour looking for likely eating places for tomorrow. I only find two places which appear to be "functioning", one is a bit "burger like" for Kathleen's taste, I suspect, and the other seems to have a menu consisting of French "delicacies" ie snails, tripe sausages! not one for us I fear.
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.
