ON OUR WAY

Good news we eventually left Pargny sur Saulx, the trees were cleared and we got the green light. It was a very slow day getting past the area of the tornado where VNF were still working to clear the sunken tree debris. So on to the Champagne region. Yes there are châteaux and a lot of vineyards.

A châteaux outside Ay.

The champagne production must be paying well. Interestingly if you visit a champagne cave in Reims, Épernay or Ay it's all very sexy with old pre Roman underground caves that are now used to store champagne. The reality is I'm afraid slightly different:

Modern production.

They do not like to mention the industrial scale of the output. Why would they? They keep the Roman caves for the vintage bottles and the tourists.

We are now pressing on for Ghent, however, a new disaster has struck. The Canal de L'Aisne à la Marne, our intended route, has been closed as the top pound is leaking badly, and won't be repaired until after the Ghent rally. So again another route this time via Paris, good, but a lot longer, bad! So we still do not know if we will get there in time!!

On another note in Chalon en Champagne last night I realise I had missed the point of exercise equipment. It's obviously for Facebooking. 

Quality time with a friend.