Jim won the bill sweepstake, being closest to the value of an individual's share. Unfortunately there's no prize, unless it's getting to pay first!
We actually got started pretty early, in the rain. The traffic was thin but critical, being coaches and buses which always eventually turned a different way from us, after a while. Bendy roads, hills, were it not for the rain it would have been lovely!
Lunch was obtained at a passing Aldi, and taken under some trees in a classic French lay-by, sheltering from rain. We eventually realised that the huge piece of stone, rough hewn and still marked the quarrying drills, was a massive monument. Nearby on 9th June 1944, a group of maquisards captured '#1 Hero', a Waffen SS commander and thereby delayed the arrival of an elite German brigade in Normandy for 48 hours. Eisenhower recognised this as critical to the survival of the Allied bridgehead. A solemn reminder of a different world, and how fortunate we are.
The rest of the miles seemed to pass pretty easily, and the signs for Gouzon also brought the return of the sun. So mutch so that when we pulled up outside the Hotellerie du Lion d'Or, and sloped off to the local cafe to wait the 1.5 hours before it opened, we'd switched jackets for sun hats and sunglasses!
Cafes - places for meditative speculation; would Elder John and Pip ever get their tobacco act together (spoiler: no); how much is the large empty house facing the square going for if the estate agent has only properties under 100k in the window; has Jim sold the 3 stone diamond and would thus finance our potential grand cru habit?! Jean Paul S and Simone de B, eat your hearts out, we exist and are proud of it!
Finally, a lovely meal served by enthusiastic youngsters, a glass of single malt and bedtime in the family room, complete with birds nest lights and baby furniture! Oh, and the amazing pink dream bathroom suite...
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