First a two-night sail from Corsica to Menorca, Spain and on to Majorca for the Kings Regatta. Crew of Matt, Matt, Nora, Scott and Charlie – the Lady GaGa crowd stayed slept on the boat – with Susan, Jack, Cissy, Kristine and Ken in the on-shore apartment. After four days of racing tied with J122 – Noisy Oyster – only to lose the challenged bottle of Champagne on the last race.
The Saone river to Lyon, where Ken, Kristine and Eddie picked up Mark and Mark and met up with the Rhone river. Vineyards only on the right bank, Condrieu, Hermitage in the north, Saint Joseph in the mid valley, and Chateauneuf du Pape in the south. Tasted them all. Spent a night in Avignon, the city of the Popes. Went through deepest French lock.
In Chaumont the rivers run into the Atlantic ocean; once through the Balesme Tunnel (five kilometers long), the rivers run to the Mediterranean Sea. Wendell and Shelley joined Ken and Kristine in this winter-like ending to the French canals, the last fifty locks into the Saone river. Then Burgundy wine tastings, Gevry Chambertin, Aloxe Corton, and Vosee Romanee in the north; Chassagne Montrachet and Meursault in the south of the Cote d’Or. So much wine, so little time!
See you on the Water
