We left Paris on Monday and ended up in Auxerre for the night - apparently the location of one of the top French soccer teams.... who knew? Was a pretty nice campsite, which was lucky, because Monique wouldn't start again. After changing ALL the fuses and some intensive investigation (and a lot of potty-mouthing) we think we worked out that it's a dodgy battery battery connection. After cleaning the battery started, so we think we should be ok now - fingers crossed!
To celebrate we started a game of soccer - only to be stopped 5 mins later by the mean old Dutch lady who had gone to get the manager to tell on us. Boo. Auxerre was really lovely though - it would have been nice to have some more time for a look around.
Onwards we ended up at Vezelay, in the middle of Le Parc Regional du Morvan. Vezelay is a Heritage listed town, and quite possibly one of the most beautiful places I've been. The view from our campsite is below -
Took the Brompton for it's first actual ride too - it has the hardest seat ever! The small wheel also took some getting used to, and I'm not very good with the gears yet - but I'd still call it a success.
We left Vezelay with the intention of it being the day that I learnt to drive the van, and the day I would take it by myself so that the boys could ride. I had been pretty nervous about driving the van, and not sure how I would go with getting it around tight corners. It's actually really quite nice to drive. Getting used to the gearing in the diesel, and the flattish steering wheel has been the biggest thing to get used to.
We needed fuel, so directed the garmin to the next petrol station, about 25kms away. The light had come on, I was getting a bit concerned, and George assured me everything was fine. He even made a joke about us getting there and the petrol station not having any diesel. So we arrived at the petrol station......and they had no diesel. Only a sign indicating that a delivery was expected that afternoon or the next morning. Less than helpful.
So we redirect the Garmin to the next closest petrol station. Also 25kms away, slightly back in the same direction. I think we ended up making it by the skin of our teeth.
I dropped the boys off, and nervously waited what I thought was enough of a head start before setting off on my own for the first time. A deep breath in, and thankfully she started. I'd dropped the boys off at the base of a mountain, so it was winding, steep roads for the most part, with logging trucks heading the other way at considerable speed. A nice, easy drive to get me started. I'd just hit a straight stretch (thankfully), when the accelerator stuck - here is hoping our third and final van-related mishap!
Our next night was in Autun - with a much deserved sleep in and lazy day. We spent some extra time at the campsite this morning, and the set off for Dijon, via Beaune and some vineyards. Beaune is an incredibly beautiful town in the heart of the vineyards, and I would love to get the chance to come back this way at some point. Along the road there were vineyards as far as you could see - pretty much my definition of happiness! We stopped at a vineyard for some tastings, and to learn a little about the area.
We're now in Dijon, and tomorrow Ross and I are going to go and do some sight-seeing. I'll try and be more regular with the posting so it's not so 'and then we did this, and then we did this', promise.
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