To Nuits Saint George

June 13, 2024

A wonderful easy ride on the Route de Grand Crus

Yes today was the day we left the canals and got involved in the grapes of Burgandy. Riding out of Dijon was a pleasant experience and showed that indeed it is an extremely cycle friendly city. It felt safe all the time. First we were put on a cycleway beside the canal to say our last goodbyes to it. The way was rather congested with lots of tiny children being escorted along by their teachers. In the way of small children try seemed unaware of others on the track. I felt charmed by them. Off the canal for the last time we were in suburban streets - there was always a marked cycle route along it and the courtesy of the drivers was outstanding

We have just passed the last of the little children - what a lovely walk for them on a beautiful sunny day

Then we turned left and we were suddenly in vines and there were workers amongst them. The viticulturist in Ken got very excited he examined the type of pruning (the were all spur pruned) noted they really they were just coming into flower and went over to talk to the workers. They were disbudding and tying up young shots with some particular variety of dried grass - he was certainly not using plastic or wire

See the dried grass in his belt for tying up the shoots

It was after this that the villages started. Along the canal although we had found them charming the villages gave you the rather sad feeling that they were dying. These villages were the opposite. They were vibrant and alive and gave you the feeling that they were prosperous. We could have hd coffee or eaten every couple of kilometres so of course we did stop at the first village for coffee. This would all have been helped by the large number of cyclists, some day touring but many like us on a longer tour

The vineyards here looked more prosperous than the earlier ones in that they were highly mechanised. The grape rows looked as if they were a meter apart and the plantings less than a meter with the trellising only about 4feet - this means of course that all the tractors must be straddle tractors. the basic ones straddle one row and with their attachments can spray 3 rows and can cultivate between the rows. We did however see a couple of enormous 3 wheeled ones straddling 2 rows that can spray further. They were busy all along the way with cultivation, a bit of top trimming and spraying. It all looked extremely efficient

Someone very important in the wine world must live here

An unusual touring get up. Her dog sat on top of the luggage as you will see in a later

It was great to meet up wit Patrick and Joel - French cyclists we had met up with earlier on - they are on their way to Lyon

These Grand Cru Vineyards are quite small

This is a single row crawler sprayer with a man walking behind it, Why when there are much more convenient ways

This is one of those enormous tractors that straddles 2 rows - there is a photo later to show how it does it

It has been a very short day getting here but one we have both loved. Tomorrow more of the same as we have an even shorter day to Beaune. Looks like we might get a bit wet but we cant expect perfect weather all the time

Today's ride: 30 km (19 miles)
Total: 402 km (250 miles)

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