Cabrerets…to Clermont Ferrand and Macon

October 14th

 

The end of our stay at Cabrerets has arrived and we are all ready and waiting for the house manager to give him the keys and get our 250 E deposit back…..all is good …we didn’t bust anything, are within the hydro allotment …so all is good and we are on our way. Clear day but quite cold around 2C.

There is no direct autoroute so we are using secondary roads going through some nice towns like Figeac, as well as seeing the odd chateau, the nicest of which is Chateau La Clayette resembling those found in the Loire Valley:

 

 

…there was also a statue of a horse which Bob could not resist posing with:

 

 

………….unfortunately after about 125 kilometers the weather worsens and we are in alternating drizzles or showers. The plan was to have a picnic lunch, but that is scrapped and we stop at a sandwicherie, sort of a cross between a patisserie and a fast food resto…..it was great as we got to sit down, use the facilities and eat a light lunch without it being a major production. As we carry on, the weather worsens , with the drizzle turning to snow showers. We soon learn that the main tunnel through the mountain range is closed. This means we need to climb over the range via a mountain pass, this is the only pic of the drive:

 

 

….not so great feeling to be driving in a tiny car, on tiny wheels, with tiny summer tires. In any event, we follow a mega truck to the summit and make our way down to the valley below where the sun is breaking through. Easy drive from here to Clermont-Ferrand where we are meeting Annie and Susan’s cousin for a visit and dinner. Tonite is our first experience with a French roadside hotel…..the room has the feeling of being on a ship…think of everything in the room being downsized…… larger people need not apply!!

We decide to take the tram into the old town and as we walk out the door, we find it has become bitterly cold with a nasty wind, oh well we are committed so off we go:

 

 

…..we meet Caroline as planned, have a quick tour of the old town:

 

 

…..yours truly goes to get cash at BNP Paribas

 

 

…….and we then decide that further touristing can be done in the comfort of a local bar….nice dinner with everyone enjoying mega burgers (Charolais beef we are assured by the waitress) and frites….

 

 

……nice visit and it is time to bid Caroline and Clermont Ferrnand adieu.

 

 

 

Next day we are off under cool and cloudy skies with the objective being to see some of the wine growing area around Macon. On the way there we pass some very pretty hilly country dedicated primarily to the raising of Charolais cattle:

 

 

Then as we lose altitude the vineyards are all around us in a blaze of orange, yellow and red with some residual green ….lovely!!

 

 

The harvesting etc. season is over and there dozens of wineries in the area many of which offer tastings and tours, unfortunately many are closed at this time of the year. In any event we found one where a very friendly young lady offered us a wine tasting, in this case showcasing a pallette of 5 wines: Macon Villages, Saint Veran and Pouilly Fuisse > the latter two in two different vintages…..a fun experience !!

 

 

 

After that we head for the gite we had reserved outside of Macon and then out for supper…..starts out promising but eventually the consensus is that the meal was average…oh well can’t win every time. Here are  some of the the offerings: an egg marmite and a chicken liver salad:

 

 

 

Everyone is tired so we have one nightcap and another day is done….