We have had a pleasant few days here and have enjoyed the sunshine and warmth. The campsite is quite interesting as it seems like a transit camp for the Dutch. Each afternoon, from about 2pm onwards they begin to arrive. Yesterday afternoon, after our morning trip to the wine seller in Bollene, we sat outside our van relaxing and drinking tea as up to ten different sets of, mainly, Dutch caravans, came through the gates. Unusually three ended up in our little ...

We remain in Modragon as we are enjoying a few days rest. As well as that we have been learning a little more about this wine area. Today we went out on the bikes: nothing too strenuous but a gentle meander through the local farm to the nearby town. Along the way we saw signs for vineyards we had never heard of as they edid not appear in the Decanter article. perhaps that's a lesson to learn: the English only get a little of what the area produces. Next lesson ...

After our overnight stop outside Macon we then had the pleasure of a short drive south. The route along the Saone, later the Rhone valley is littered with vineyards! We made the asy decision, after failing to stop anypeople where neqar Beaune that we should now stop. Having checked the books, local guides and so forth we decided on a co-operative just south of Macon called Chateau de Chenas. Tasting wine at 10am is not a good idea but what else can one do. We e...