France May/June 2016. Day 25 The First Part of the Journey North

We were up early this morning to pack and get off.  Annoyingly after a week without a drop of rain we woke to a brief shower at 5.00.  It only lasted half an hour but was enough to wet the tent.  Undeterred we were still packed and on the road for 8.30 stopping only for bread and croissant in the village for our lunch.  We did make sure we photographed the lizard orchid at the back of the tent first, though.  Our route took us over the Col de Menee where we checked the ladies slipper orchids which were still looking pristine.  Views over to the Alps were stunning as we were above much of the cloud which filled the valley below us.  Once down on the main road we stopped at a hotel for coffee and breakfast before joining the motorway, which took us past Grenoble and Lyon.  We eventually turned off at the wine town of Beaune and drove over the beautiful Burgundian countryside to Chatillon sur Seine where we are established in the excellent Hotel de Cote d’Or.  This is another Logis de France and we have stayed here before so were looking forward to it.  Unfortunately the restaurant is closed on a Monday (the story of our lives!)  so we shall wander into the town to eat at one of the other excellent restaurants here.  Now that we have travelled 300 miles north the weather is wet and cool; more of the same tomorrow on our way to Zeebrugge perhaps, but not was wet as three years ago when we had to make a huge detour to cross the flooded Seine and though we might miss the boat.
To view large, please click on an image.