Metz to Fleurie

The morning started with a lite drizzle that rhythmically tapped our RV roof. And the cold air from the French wine fields had managed its way into our home on wheels. We cuddled tightly together in the already small but cozy bed to warm up a bit. Luckily sleep caught us for a second time and we dozed off to our Spanish home in the warmth. At least I did.

3 little rascals took it upon themselves to vocally let us know that if it was up to them it was breakfast time. And so, I lifted my body up from the matrass and moved myself into the kitchen. Still half sleeping I got the cat food and fed the hungry bunch. The sweet smell of cat food in the morning, don’t we all love it? After their breakfast was finished, one of them feld the need to relieve herself of a number 2. And let me tell you in a space of 4m³ this does not go well with your senses. But as we got experienced in the sport of flinging the kittylitterbox it was outside in a jiffy. Quickly open all the doors, windows and all other possible vent options, we got it under control. You got to know that kittylitterboxflinging is a team sport, and that we are world champions without a doubt. You got to be able to hold your breath for prolonged time, and in the same time coordinately dance around one another through the RV fulfilling the needed tasks without stepping on one of the beasts or them getting out and escaping into the wild. And all of this with one of them looking really pleased with herself, or at least that is what it looks like.

Yesterday we left Metz city center at about 10:00 and had a fair drive over the route du soleil. We passed Nancy and Dijon and the traffic was alright. Around the cities a bit dense, but otherwise nice and easy driving with a bit of French sun to accompany us. Normally we stop at 16:00 and search for a campsite about another hours drive further along the route. But as we now start to feel what we did not allow ourselves to feel during the preparation for the move, the tiredness was taking his toll. We stopped at 15:00 at a rest stop at Jugy. It was time for some stretching and some ice-cream. We searched for a campsite in the neighborhood and found one called “Grappe de Fleurie”. As it sounded quite nice we rang and made a reservation for 2 nights. We had just given ourselves an additional day of rest and chillaxing. With the weekend coming up we believed that we deserved some additional resting. Also the news had said that the coming weekend would again be “black Saturday” in France. And no, this is not a sale wit 20%, 30% and 40% off. This is traffic jams of 50% more travelers on the French roads all heading south, the same as us. Since we had no rush, we decided to wait it out and leave on Sunday. It was a win/win. We take some additional R&R on route to our lifetime of R&R. And let all the poor other buggers take part in the rat race called holiday. See the picture of the map. The blue dot is us, the red line going south are the traffic jams.

Since I was up after the kittylitterflinging, and Suus wanted to rest some more I went on a morning stroll over the campsite. Usually I do this after we arrive on a new campsite, but I did not yet get around to it. When we drove up yesterday we found out that we are in the Walhalla for wine lovers, the Mekka for the red wine drinkers. We were in the region of the Beaujolais. And I mean smack death center. We drove half an hour through slowly sloping wine fields as far as the eye could see. The nice symmetry of the long rows of grapevine which disappeared in the distance only to reemerge after a hundred meters when the field slowly rose again. We would pass one winery after another. From farmhouses to nice small castle wineries. The wine casks and old tools at each entrance really gave it the finishing touch. I walked along “our” lane with its camping places divided by nicely trimmed hedges for the much needed privacy. The lane on which we parked our RV came to its end at the area with the swimming pool. Which as it turned out was also the end of the campground. But with some investigation I found a little path which let into the neighboring field of grapevines. I walked down the path and into the field where I took some photos. The rain which had stopped earlier again started to drizzle. Just a few drops here and there but just enough to start walking back and see if Suus had woken up. Before I arrived at our RV I walked by the reception to book an additional night, we would now leave on Monday. As said we will take it slow, that’s where we want to go, down to Kokomo. I walked by the little campground shop and picked up the fresh French croissants and baguette we ordered the day before. I slowly strolled back and found that Suus was awake. Time for breakfast.