Day 269 14th April
59 miles(Beaune to Selongey) Average speed 11.5 mph Top speed 32 mph
A very long Good Friday.
Up at 7.30 Brekkie of cheese and chorizo in manky day old baguette with 3 teas. Packed and FT (FaceTime) Stephan to let him know I was on my way. Then I hit the main road to Dijon which was very good with a wide shoulder to ride on and good quality. I made great time and stopped off in Nuits St.George where I enjoyed the park but the museum was closed until May.
Nuits St Georges Vineyard
Brian the Snail enjoying the park in Nuits St Georges
I managed to find Decathlon but couldn’t cross the road anywhere to get there. Eventually I did and bought a large gas canister and some energy bars and a can of degreaser small enough to carry. I found my way through appelonia to get back on the road north but it soon became a motorway without me noticing the signs. So I made fast progress to get off before the gendarmes caught up with me.
Then I went through a small village and saw a big hill awaiting me so navigated my way to the road I was going to take in the first place. This took me to a place where the camping was no more, just a dumping ground; so I had to carry on to Selongey, another 8 miles, but that one was closed too. I sat in desperation but a youngster on a bike showed me to a park opposite; which was gated and I didn’t fancy being locked in. I went into the village and tried to find water, when I remembered the guy I met from St.Malo telling me that cemeteries were a good place to camp, so I ventured to the outskirts of town where I managed to fill up with water and find a perfect spot next to a picnic table.
Wild camping beside a picnic table next to the cemetery. (Ermintrude; Cheap and cheerful?)
I quickly made dinner of double cheese burgers with Dijon mustard and had a couple of beers I bought at Leader Price when I thought I had a campsite. Another good day if a little stressful towards the end.
Dinner – burgers with Dijon mustard
Camping next to cemetery at picnic table.