Italy Road Trip: May 2013

Monday, 27 May 2013

Home and Unpacked. (well nearly)

We were treated to a lie in this morning as we gained an hour and when the ship's tannoy woke us at 6.30 our body clock told us it was 7.30. A quick shower and outside to see where we were. We had just passed Spurn and the ship was appraaching Grimsby. Always fascinates me to see it from this angle. It was a perfect morning weather-wise and if not our best of the trip, one of them. Once docked we were soon off and on our way back to Grimsby, making sure to drive on the left!!! We were home at just after 10.00 and soon into unpacking, washing and airing tent and sleeping bags.

On reflection, we have had a wonderful trip and, if sometimes somewhat stressful - car breakdown, torrential rain , an amazing adventure. As we pack away the kit we are already talking about the next trip. Perhaps parts of France that still need exploring - The Adeche, Languedoc, parts of the Alps, maybe a trip round Spain and of course we never did make it to parts of Tuscany or the Cinque Terre or Grindelwald. Is next week too early!!!

Just a few more photographs taken this morning in the Humber.

Normally only see the KESS boat in the docks.

KESS and Humber fort.

Passing Cleethorpes.

Another view of Cleethropes.

Humber shipping.

Nearly home. The famous landmark of Grimsby Dock Tower, inspired by the clock tower in Sienna.

Sunday, 26 May 2013

On the Ferry and It's Stella Time!

Up early for breakfast this morning as we had 250 miles to cover and we wanted to continue 'off piste' and avoid motorways and their tolls. We couldn't resist a quick trip up to the campsite, however, all looked as we remembered it other than a brand new reception and ablution block. We hope to be back before long. Our journey took us through delightful small French villages along the D roads following the river Seine up into Champagne country. At one point we needed to cross the river but it had severely burst it's banks and we had to detour miles to find a crossing, losing most of an hour. Good job we had made an early start. Sally SatNav was thrown into confusion and became very upset. Eventually, soon after passing through the famous champagne town of Chateau Tierry, it was time to rejoin the motorway for the last blast to Zeebrugge and the ferry. As it was Sunday and all the lorries were parked up in service areas, we almost had the motorway to ourselves and made good time arriving at the ferry in perfect time for loading. Now I sit with a pint of Stella before going down for a meal then an early night - well maybe another beer first! ;-).
Tomorrow we should be home by 10.00, unpacked and then enjoying a bank holiday joint of beef round at good friends and neighbours John and Julie. There may well be a few tales to tell!!

Images from Taize.

Mersault, Cote 'Or, Burgundy.

Another Day On The Road

What a difference a day makes! Thursday evenings meal a €2.80 tin of ravioli in the tent and Friday night dining in luxury overlooking the river and beginning the meal with a complimentary amuse bouch! At last I got my lapin! Perfectly cooked rabbit's leg boned and stuffed with onions, breadcrumbs and smoked lardons; delicious. The Maconaise Pinot Noir was also excellent.
This morning (Saturday) we were up and breakfasted bright and early and then off to visit the local town and abbey. We realised immediately why the first hotel we had tried yesterday was full: there was an alternative technology weekend in, plus a big horse jumping event and it was also market day. Once we had found (with difficulty) somewhere to park we wandered into the abbey through the alternative technology exhibition. We didn't realise until we left by the entrance that we had entered by the back way and inadvertently avoided the €9.50 entrance fee. It also explained why we had found the explanations difficult to follow!! The abbey at one time had been huge but now little of the original building remains. Begun around 950, it had been built to house the remains of St Peter and St Paul that had been brought to the site from Rome. Consequently it became an important pilgrim shrine. The abbot, in the mid 1600s when the abbey had still been at the height if its powers, had been Cardinal Richelau, but by the 1700s it had fallen out of favour and was largely demolished. Once we found our way out we discovered the Saturday market. Brilliant! I love food markets as this was and the camera soon came out. After a couple of purchases a coffee in the old town was in order before moving on to Taize. Here we mingled with the Taize Community (Google it!) and attended their 12.30 service a spiritual and moving experience.
All too soon it was time to be on the road again as we drove the length of the Cote d'Or vineyards of Burgundy; Mersault, Beaune, Nuits St. George and Givrey-Chambertin to name but a few. From Dijon our route took us over the high rolling hills of Burgundy to Chatillon sur Seine, close to the source of the famous river itself. This is a favourite stop over of ours and he have stayed on the campsite in both tent and caravan. This time it was to be a very pleasant Logis de France hotel; old and quirky but with a wonderful restaurant. After our meal we walked it off with a stroll around the old medieval town perched above the river. Another excellent day.

Cluny Abbey

Stonework in the abbey

The market Cluny

Bread stall

The market.

Wonderful local tomatoes

Local produce Cluny Market

The abbey from the market.

Olives.

Cluny Old Town

Friday, 24 May 2013

Orchids from the Trip.

One of the highlights of this trip has been the large numbers of new orchid species I have seen so I thought it would be interesting to show them all on one page.