Nuits-Saint-Georges

During last night the rain came down, hammering on the glass roof above our bed, and the wind funnelled down the river Seine, rocking Marge. Despite all this commotion, we woke late, rising at 10 am! The travelling of the three previous days had taken its toll, and I think we were both glad of a good nights rest.

As we ate a late breakfast , we watched a car being craned onto a nearby barge, and watching it set sail into the greyness, we discussed how France had changed since we have been coming here over the last few years. More rubbish, hedges, grass and flower borders in public areas not so immaculate, and more potholes on the roads.

Before setting off, we relieved Marge of her waste water, positively gushing out of this Marge, unlike old Marge who could produce only a trickle and take forever, much to the annoyance of the French all waiting behind us.

On route here, we saw some of the 'Gilet Jaune', (yellow vest) protesters. We could sympathise with their cause, having seen diesel as expensive as 1.60 euros a litre.

We stopped for lunch beside the Chateau d' Ancy le Franc, a masterpiece of Italian architect Sebastian Serlio. After lunch the weather was an improving picture, tomorrow it is suppose to settle down and become warmer. As we bowled along, surrounded by a vast expanse of lush green fields, we were reminded of yesterdays terrain, comparative with its neat, newly planted fields of seed potatoes, they looked like metres of brown corduroy cloth unfolding into the distance. Later in our journey we began to climb some steep inclines, we were now in the Burgundy region, so close to the edge of the alps. Some of the roads were quite precarious, and reminded us of our trip to Spain last year. But we were old hands at this, 'just don't look down, oh you already have!'

Tonight we are staying at Nuits Saint Georges. The aire is on the outskirts of the town, and we are sited under a horse chestnut tree. There are four other vans here, one of which is from Sweden.

After a walk to explore the town, and the vineyards on the edge, we are back in Marge ready to cook a vegetable stir fry for our evening meal, waistlines are already expanding, oh dear, so soon into our trip!