With the frustrating news that the river was opening back to Auxerre but remaining closed in the direction we needed to go, I accepted that Mum would travel no further down the canal on this trip and ange and alec would get no canal time at all. I was devastated for Mum having so much wanted to show her the delights of the Nivernais, but this extraordinary weather year had denied us the chance. In 3 weeks she had travelled just 30 kms. but at least had enjoyed some great days out in the car and today as her last full day would be no exception.
We drove back to Auxerre for Ange and alec to find an aldi so as to stock up on the saumer bubbly. Two cases did the trick. We did a driving tour of the city in a fleeting dry 20minutes before popping into Geant to enable us to get a recharge for the internet from Orange. 30 minutes later, we had lost mum in the superstore, we finally got the recharge sorted, alec was desperately searching for some reading glasses, angela was looking for Mum and we needed to just get the hell out of that hell hole of a shopping nightmare.
We headed for chablis and with the weather at last brightening enjoyed a walking tour of this delightful town.
Full of tasting houses hotels and restaurants.
By the greatest of fortune, I remembered the card in my wallet and we managed to track down the vigneron supplier to the Pot Au Feu at Vezelay and after a chablis degustation, I walked out delighted with twelve bottles of grand ordinair at just 6 euros a bottle. (ok so the restaurant clearly gets a discount) I did try my luck on negotiating a price for 12 on the back of the 75cl carafe for only 6.50 but it fell on very deaf ears. Still I was chuffed with the quality at this price.
Another town we had visited and so enjoyed early in the trip had been Noyer sur Sureine and with it just 18kms distant, I suggested we just had time to fit it in. We got there just after 4 as two coachloads were departing. Perfect we pretty much had the place to ourselves. It really is a delight on the eye.
At the end of the town, I suggested ange and alex follow our footsteps of a few weeks ago and climb the 337 steps to the old chateau and the commanding belvedere viewpoints over the town. Off they trod unawares of the severity of those steps. I chuckled to myself as I nestled down for a cold leffe awaiting their return.
They arrived sweating and drinking a can of coke which had been much needed and sadly, although having loved the views, felt the need to swear at me.
Back at Doucette, I sent the Ritchies off on an hours bike ride leaving the crew to peel and de-vain a kilo of prawns whilst I prepped the avocado and its dressing for the starters. The main course was a variation of the rick stein salmon in salsa verde recipe which we had with haricot vert and spring onions and new potatoes. Collette finished things off with stewed Mirabelle's (like baby plums) on a sponge base soaked in rum flavoured syrup topped with some good old ambrosia custard.
At least we felt we had fed them well.
All in all it had been another cracking day despite that weather
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