Day 8 - Avallon to Beaune

Friday, September 11

Avallon to Beaune (130 km)

The day dawned cloudy and cool. We started out in the canyon and slowly climbed east out of it, about a ten kilometer climb. The next 55 kilometers were up and down big hills.

In Avallon we stayed in a very nice hotel. The resturant was a typical, beautiful, French dining room - but the restroom was really unusual.

You opened the door to see the nice sinks. But then, starting high and to your right, you heard water running.

As you looked up, you saw water running down a glass wall to...

...the trough, which is the pissoir! How about that? Very impressive to us men.

Our ride took us through some beautiful forest early in the day. It slowly eased until the last big ridge of hills just west of Beaune. That was followed by another ten kilometer climb, finishing with the swoop down into Beaune past the beginning of the vendage.

Very dense and beautiful forest. No rain on us! Note the ferns.

In total, we climbed well over 5000 feet. The rural roads think nothing of climbing or descending with 8-10% grades for short distances; they are a lot of work! As we rode, the weather turned much hotter, so were stuffing clothing everywhere (ear warmers, leg warmers, vests, long fingered gloves, etc. - you get the idea).

Grocery store in St. Auben

We found a great little country grocery store in St. Auben today. At it, a nice lady cut a baguette, then helped me make a sandwich with a terrine compangne as the meat. Those are really great for hard riding in the hills. Stores like this have been rare in our travels, but are the best.

Well, it's time for some preliminary answers:

It takes one bagette sandwich for about every 40 km. That, with a gel or bar, keeps you topped off.

Approaching Baune

We roared down into Baune with the vendage just starting. We saw a lot of activity and little trucks in the vineyards. Here in Burgundy they typically have stone walls around the vinyards.

Baune is the usual tourist ant pile. You know you're in trouble when most of the signs are in French and English. Still, it is a wonderful, small, French city. Trucks loaded with grapes passed through town, dripping sweet smelling juice on the pavement.