Watching my Wine Grow !

I’d decided that I should stop for a few days in my beloved Fleurie… to sample some of the wines, walk and cycle through the countryside,watch the vines grow… and eventually take some wine home with me !

So, that’s what I’ve done !

I’d stocked up with food at a supermarket in Cluny ( just catching them before they closed for the day) and arrived at Camping La Grappe in Fleurie early afternoon… I settled for a short time before heading up to the Cave de Fleurie, to sample some of the wines, and head back to the campsite with a few wines to further sample…I’ve made good selections !

Monday was a little overcast, but it didn’t actually rain until I was out on the mountain bike, trying to work out the bike routes which were signposted from outside the campsite…I got lost, and ended up making my own ‘route’ up, a significant 30 kms trek, that gave me a little idea of how hilly the area actually is, including a visit to La Chapelle la Madonna, on the hillside above Fleurie… a nice leg stretcher, and I was rewarded with more wine to taste !

Tuesday was a wet ,rainy day, when I caught up with my ‘paperwork’, although I’ve not been able to publish any of my ‘blogs’ !

Wednesday, a lot brighter, so I got the road bike out, and headed off in another direction, up and down the hills, until I arrived at Beajeau, and found a big signboard, with all the cycle routes shown… just what I need, and then I found the tourist office, where they kindly gave me some prints of several of the routes…

Off I went on a route ‘Entre Vignes et Forets’, which went up,up and up, from the town 8 kms up to the Col de Crie at 624 mts  ,although I did manage to stop at some lovely churches on the way up ( and down!), from there I continued climbing up to Col du Fut Avenas at 743 mts , and looking down at the Beaujolais countryside beneath me… which I was then able to swoop down along the roads and through, eventually getting to a bit where I could turn left and head back to Fleurie and collapse in my chair… a hard 62kms bike ride …what a day, time for some sun and relaxing ( and sunburn !)

Next day Thursday I was out on my road bike again, into the windy countryside following another of the routes, although I’d done a lot of it on the Monday, ‘Les Balcons de Beaujolais’, I only managed 35 kms before collapsing back at the campsite… someone said I was supposed to relax !

Friday I was up early, and ready to wish my youngest Grandchild Sebastian a Happy 1st Birthday, great to see him bouncing around at home… and then I was out early, for what I’d decided would be my final days ride around, and I headed out on ‘Les Crus du Beaujolais’ up around the back lane, heading for another couple of high cols to get up and over…eventually ..then hurtling down the roads again, watching others struggle up the hill towards me … another 35 kms ride (surprising, I thought it was about 60 !!) and another afternoon of rest ( and clothes washing )

Saturday another big day …. ! A gentle walk up to the famous chapel of La Madonne, from where I could see all the differing vineyards that have supplied my Fleurie wine over the years…I just sat there, looking, and remembering all that lovely wine and happy memories of times here with Susan…

Then, the important thing…as the sun was cooling off to the various caves to pick up my wine selection…. ready for my trip towards home…

I’m leaving here in the morning, with a couple of leisurely days up to Calais, and then crossing to surprise someone…. ??

Adieu !