To Beaune

June 15, 2024

Not the golden day of yesterday

I consulted the weather aps and YR told me that there should be a gap in the rain between 10 and 2 and the wind should be a moderate head wind. We had a choice we could do a very short route that didn’t take us too high up into the hills or a much longer one that took us up high into more vineyards - we could leave the choice till later on and see how things went.

The start was not altogether encouraging within a minute of leaving the hotel just before 10 the rain started. Then my phone fell out of its holder but I was very lucky the big truck didn’t run over it. We were immediately turned onto a small dirt road going steeply up hill and the rain intensified as did the wind. We were led up into beautiful vineyards but we failed to have the same appreciation for them that we had yesterday. Even the crows that had been so obvious yesterday looked rather bedraggled and dejected. When the rain was at its heaviest the vineyard workers were hiding out in their vans but most of the time they were working. Ken spoke to some and said he thought they would have the day off today. The answer however was no, the weather had been bad so they were behind with their work, they must push on.

After some time we were brought down. Here on the flat land the crops were grain crops and the tiny roads were well paved so we spun along. Although we were passing through some small villages we didn’t find an open cafe but just spun through them. Then it was up into the vines again and we came to our time of choice either up further into the vines or the shorter route back down. We chickened out and decided to go down and after a few kilometres on a busy road we were riding into Beaune. It was just before 12 so the ideal time to find an open restaurant. We locked our bikes up and in we went to have a restoring beer and a really lovely pizza. Check in at the hotel wasnt until 3pm but we could unload our bikes and put them away then sit in a warm comfortable waiting area talking to some pleasant English people. The room is great in that it is really big which is a change and the weather aps tell me that although there will be heavy rain this afternoon and tonight is should be fine by morning though a bit cool

Not fun working in a vineyard in this weather

This was crazy - he was spraying with a motorised back pack sprayer in the rain

Outside of a very fine Wine Chateau. It was here that we decided to take the short route and head down hill instead of going further up into the vines

They tell Ken they have to keep working despite the rain

Today's ride: 18 km (11 miles)
Total: 420 km (261 miles)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	9
Comment on this entry	Comment	0