Our October Bimble over the channel in search of some sun …

[bigtree]

I popped by today but you were out.

They didn't charge us any extra, Must know we are poor pensioners,,BUSBY.

 

[Grianan]

Lovely cycle ride along the canal side this morning. Nala took a bit of persuading to stay in her golden chariot (first time) but hopefully she’ll get better with practice.

 

[Grianan]

and tonight’s dinner just out of the Cobb .. our €9.95 label rouge chicken ..,

 

[busby]

I popped by today but you were out.

Are you on site?? BUSBY

 

[Grianan]

… and resolutely back to our travel thread in Bourgogne … (guys really???)

We decided to stay an extra night at Vandenesse and I’m glad we did. We hadn’t cycled the canal in the other direction (towards Pouilly) so we did this morning - it is even more beautiful! We saw 2 red kites circling overhead and a red squirrel.

It was also another chance to get Nala used to the bike trailer. While still not keen, she settled well and didn’t try to jump out. She had lots of high value treats and a game of fetch during the ride but refused to eat any in her chariot .

Our mission was the Carrefour Contact in Créancey using the pistes cyclables … by ignoring the signs and taking a short rough track you can get within a couple of hundred metres of the shop. It’s not big but we only needed bread, wine and water.

At one point the canal goes into a 3.3km tunnel. The cycle path is on top of the tunnel at that point and there are ventilation towers every couple of hundred metres.

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[busby]

View attachment 821621View attachment 821622View attachment 821623View attachment 821624View attachment 821625View attachment 821626View attachment 821627View attachment 821628View attachment 821629View attachment 821630View attachment 821631View attachment 821632… and resolutely back to our travel thread in Bourgogne … (guys really???)

We decided to stay an extra night at Vandenesse and I’m glad we did. We hadn’t cycled the canal in the other direction (towards Pouilly) so we did this morning - it is even more beautiful! We saw 2 red kites circling overhead and a red squirrel.

It was also another chance to get Nala used to the bike trailer. While still not keen, she settled well and didn’t try to jump out. She had lots of high value treats and a game of fetch during the ride but refused to eat any in her chariot .

Our mission was the Carrefour Contact in Créancey using the pistes cyclables … by ignoring the signs and taking a short rough track you can get within a couple of hundred metres of the shop. It’s not big but we only needed bread, wine and water.

At one point the canal goes into a 3.3km tunnel. The cycle path is on top of the tunnel at that point and there are ventilation towers every couple of hundred metres.

Super photos,,BUSBY.

 

[bigtree]

No, we’re do

Are you on site?? BUSBY

w at the airport parking towards Castellon.

 

[busby]

No, we’re do

w at the airport parking towards Castellon.

Busy on there,,cycled passed the other day,,We stayed on the aire in Benicasim Thursday night..BUSBY.

 

[MR BLO]

Lovely photos and blog. I think I am enjoying your holiday as much as you are.

 

[Grianan]

Lovely photos and blog. I think I am enjoying your holiday as much as you are.

Thanks, that’s kind. Shame we didn’t get try out some of your finds in the Netherlands …. They’re stored away for a future trip.

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[Grianan]

This morning we dragged ourselves away from Vandenesse and 7km up the road to the Chateau Commarin, which a lovely English couple living in France recommended last time we were there in early July.
I prefer chateaux from the outside rather than the inside so I was quite happy that dogs were only allowed in the park. The information guide was super-informative too.

We then headed over to Nuits Saint Georges which was a bit of a disappointment. Maybe we were just tired but it was much busier and more commercial than I expected. By the time we parked up we were late for lunch so ended up at a bar/cafe on the road next to a crane which was bringing down crates of old roofing materials precariously close to our table! I was so hungry that I forgot to take a photo of the excellent Boeuf Bourguignon we both had. I had a glass of the cheapest red wine at €6 - bottles went up to €250. We then shared a fabulous Café Gourmand, with a smooth but strong grand café écrémé - just the way I like it - no froth for me!
We’re now parked up at another France passion site, supping Kir made with local Aligoté and Crème de Cassis from the site. Delicious! Santé à tous.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Great journal, the weather looks fabulous. I couldn't agree more it’s the architecture of a chateau that is most interesting. Inside they all seem a bit samey.

 

[MR BLO]

You have got to give it to the French, they can certainly knock up a good looking castle.
But sacré bleue!! Sharing a café gourmand. Sacrilege. You do know that the spoon is not for the coffee but to fend off unwanted “visitors”.

 

[Grianan]

You have got to give it to the French, they can certainly knock up a good looking castle.
But sacré bleue!! Sharing a café gourmand. Sacrilege. You do know that the spoon is not for the coffee but to fend off unwanted “visitors”.

I wish we could have managed one each . There is something to be said for several tiny portions of a variety of delicious foods …

 

[MR BLO]

I wish we could have managed one each . There is something to be said for several tiny portions of a variety of delicious foods …

Like a pudding tapas….

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[scousebird]

But sacré bleue!! Sharing a café gourmand. Sacrilege. You do know that the spoon is not for the coffee but to fend off unwanted “visitors”.

I do like a Café Gourmand

 

[Grianan]

Today was a return to a village we drove through in July. Mersault is stunning, on the piste cyclable through the vineyards. Today there was a tiny market consisting of 6 vans - fish, meat, tablecloths, cheese, woven baskets and fruit and veg.
The beautiful town hall dates to 1337 and was originally a fortified castle though it has been renovated and changed over the centuries.
We are now in Dijon at the Camping du Lac Kir so a cycle in is scheduled tomorrow, amidst the showers.

 

[yodeli]

Ok... Just in case (as you did say you wanted to call in at some point... which of course doesn't say when ) I'll be away from home on saturday 21st afternoon till late, and also from friday the 27th to sunday the 29th. I'll be at Gruissan Plage , at LVL campsite facing the sea! Come if in the area... and don't forget to bring a birthday cake! I'll take candles ... just in case ... I'll be all by myself

 

[Grianan]

Ok... Just in case (as you did say you wanted to call in at some point... which of course doesn't say when ) I'll be away from home on saturday 21st afternoon till late, and also from friday the 27th to sunday the 29th. I'll be at Gruissan Plage , at LVL campsite facing the sea! Come if in the area... and don't forget to bring a birthday cake! I'll take candles ... just in case ... I'll be all by myself

Oh we will come to see you one day for definite! This time though we’re staying in Bourgogne. It’s beautiful though we do miss Gruissan! xx

 

[yodeli]

Oh we will come to see you one day for definite! This time though we’re staying in Bourgogne. It’s beautiful though we do miss Gruissan! xx

Never mind! Not to worry, I bet the wind will help me blowing the 64 candles!

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[Grianan]

Never mind! Not to worry, I bet the wind will help me blowing the 64 candles!

Happy Birthday when it comes. Once again we only have 2 weeks school holiday - we are back to school on Monday 23rd .

 

[pelican]

HI
Enjoying your rambles. Did you stay at a campsite in Mersault?

 

[Grianan]

HI
Enjoying your rambles. Did you stay at a campsite in Mersault?

Thanks. No the site doesn’t get great reviews. We stayed at a France Passion about 30 mins away then parked up for 2/3 hours on the outskirts of the old town (park by night). I’m not sure you could overnight there - there are no signs at all.

 

[Grianan]

Today started wet so I finished my book and watched a red squirrel run up and down several trees and hide in the hedge every time I tried to photograph it!
The rain came along with a cold front that reduced the temperature from mid twenties to about 13 degrees. Ouch!
Having cycled round the lake yesterday with Nala on her walky dog bike attachment she struggled with speed/distance so we used her chariot again today. She’s still not keen but isn’t trying to jump out any more.
Dijon was stunning, even with grey skies. York on steroids. And we had a fabulous Charolais steak and frites for lunch too . I wish I had the restraint to photograph it before I started eating. Once again I was half way through when I remembered. You’ll have to take my word that it was delicious!
Not sure where to go tomorrow. We have to be at vet near Macon in Tuesday morning so not too far … any ideas?

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Dijon looks good it’s on our list for the future. Have you been to Chalons sur Soane or Beaune? I don’t think are that far.

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[DerryW]

Some lovely photos of Dijon, I've been following and enjoying your blog. Sounds as though you're now heading back home. Thanks for all the photos and tales of your time away.

 

[Grianan]

Dijon looks good it’s on our list for the future. Have you been to Chalons sur Soane or Beaune? I don’t think are that far.

Dijon surpassed our expectations. More to see than in Beaune perhaps and in a very compact area though Les Hospices in Beaune were fabulous! We’ve not been to Chalon-sur-Saône so that’s a possibility .

 

[Grianan]

Some lovely photos of Dijon, I've been following and enjoying your blog. Sounds as though you're now heading back home. Thanks for all the photos and tales of your time away.

Thanks, we’re at the half way point … I booked the vets for Tuesday so we could bring our return (Friday night) forward if we needed to - last time we came to France my mum had a series of TIAs so we left a couple of days earlier than planned .

 

[Grianan]

We didn’t quite make it to Dole but we’re over towards Bresse at a riverside CCP at Mantenay-Mentlin. I really would have like to see Chalons but the aire was uninspiring and the satnav took us through the worst parts of town!

It’s very peaceful here, the only motorhomes seem to be those of fishermen who, by their nature, are quiet. Though the afternoon was punctuated by la chasse - 2 men with guns and 3 spaniels with cow bells on their collars. Nothing like the crack of a rifle to wake you up when you’re dozing off in the sun!

Despite the blue skies it’s chilly - 15 degrees and a north wind,; we turned the van round to block the worst but Mr Grianan’s resorted to his fleece and I’m wearing 2 cardies - no slaves to fashion here.

We’ll stay another night. After Dijon we need solitude. We both enjoy cities but find the volume of people exhausting.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

We've never made it to Dole either, it's still on our list.

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