We were up early. The vineyards on the slopes across the road were bathed in sunlight. We had breakfast, said goodbye to Laurence and Charles, and drove south along the tollroad towards Dijon, stopping at a Total for a tank-full of E98 and at an Aire for a picnic lunch.
We arrived in Clairvaux-les-lacs in mid afternoon and drove through the little town with old buildings and narrow streets to 2, rue de l’Egalite – the AirB&B that would be our home for the next two weeks. The heat had killed the lawns but a vine in the back garden was laden with fruit. A treehouse stood in one corner and a metal barbecue was next to a wooden table and bench.
The wind howled and it was very hot. We sat under the awning on the deck and waited for Stephanie.
As promised, the caretaker arrived at 4, opened the house and showed how everything worked. The bottle of lemonade, the jar of confiture, biscuits and sachets of infusions on the dinning table were ‘welcome gifts’. Stephanie spoke only French.
We bought fresh fruit & vegetables, cheese and gluten free bread at the CarreFour Express on rue Farterre. The salad, potatoes and dry sausage supper was washed down with half a bottle of Extra Quality Brut from Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart.
Sleep that night was blissful.
Practicalities
- It is 389 km from Ludes to Clairvaux-lees-lacs
- The driving time is 4 hrs.
- The toll is Euro 33
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