August 20th. Warwick and Sam have left us, and we are leading down the River Saone towards Lyon, with Colleen and Terry.
Suerre…
Spent the night here in the beautiful small village of Seurre on the Saone. Colleen decided that the water was clean enough in the river to wash Terry’s undies. !!!!!!!!!
Next day off to Challon–sur-Saone,
The locks are bigger on the river to fit the commercials and river cruisers. Terry and Lucy had to model the lastest fashion on the River….. To be worn in all locks!!! . Luckily we had bought these new slim-line life jackets and dispensed of the large orange polystyrene filled ones…. we look the part now.(not like the bumper boats..hehehehe)
Challon-sur-Saone.
Coming through the town, to turn around the island and past the lovely flowers and into the port. A lovely town with the port hidden behind a small island in the river that was full of restaurants. We had the most amazing thunder and lightning storm that reduced the humidity and heat down to about 24 degrees ( from 34) Lovely…
As in most small towns in France, the main square is dominated by a church, old buildings and the ever present cafes.
On to Tournus.
Again another lovely small town, dominated by the Abbey, and again with cobbled, mainly pedestrian streets always in the old town. After visiting a Cave of the Delmorne brothers, ( Mr Delmorne and wife below), Domaine Clos Gandin, and tasting and of course buying a few bottles, we discovered that there was an actual town called Chardonnay, where the grape originated from in around 988.AD.
So galant as ever, Lucy accompanied Max and on 10 km , (up hill and down) ride to the village…. of course we forgot it was Monday and everything was shut…so no wine tasting there.
BUT, after Terry and Colleens exploits the day before.. they had discovered another wine tasting shop and had a good few samples with the owner from,,, guess… Pakuranga, ((who was also a rugby player and old St Kent’s boy as well)).We thought not to be out done and as we had missed out sampling on the cycle trip to Chardonnay, we visited ‘La Banque des Grands Crus.’ for tasting.… Lovely wines but with a price bracket to match.
A little restaurant we have been recommended that we want to try next visit, and the Town hall with proof that Lucy does ride a bicycle..
Inside the Abbey, The Eglise St Plilibert there are old mosaics still visible on the floor of the main chapel, with pieces the size of 2-3mm wide. These date back to the 11th – 14 C. There was also an amazing crypt under the main alter.
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Ok. Where is the cow hiding??? What you do is either take your own bottle, or buy one for 30c, then put your euro in, open the little door, put your bottle under the spout, and press the button… and hey presto, so easy, but where are the teats??
Also the church, dating back to St Valerian who was martyred just after 177 AD. for trying to spread christandum.
We had an entertaining day and night to follow on the pontoon, with hire boats trying to get into gaps that were far too small, and bashing other rental boats, and boats mooring arses end in with their noses out in the current. Also at night (and day) the busy passage of the big cruisers going up and down the river.
Leaving Tournus for Macon.
