Surviving Grandparent-hood with the aid of Champagne


Warning!  This post contains pictures of a grandchild . . .

We're back.  Where have we been?  Everywhere!  And we just lost our 'round tuit' when it came to Taddy Tales.  But we're going to have a catch-up on our amazing summer now.

We were joined by Cat and grandson, Alfred, at Reims for a trip into Champagne.  The following day, we were joined by Julie's mother.  So Taddy was pretty full as we headed back down the Canal de L'Oise a Marne.

Alfred soon settled into boat life.  At 13 months he was very mobile and many crew members feared he might fall overboard.  We have a small person lifejacket but the weather was incredibly hot and it seemed too much of a challenge to negotiate him wearing it.  But he was no fool - all the food was on the boat and this boy really likes his grub.


We climbed back over the canal summit and through the 2.3km Billy Tunnel.  That didn't frighten anyone, old or young.  On a baking hot afternoon, we moored near the tunnel and Cat and Rob headed off to shuffle cars.  We were right by Vaudemange, a village with a couple of champagne houses and accidentally dropped into one.  They were closed but the owner soon appeared and brought us in for a free tasting and good talking to.  We weren't going to be taken in by that.  Oh wait, yes we were.  We escaped carrying 2 cases waving farewell to a smiling M. Francart.  Back at the boat, our lateness was forgiven as the corks started popping.

Down the other side and turn right onto the Canal Lateral a la Marne.  It was really hot and the criteria for a good mooring was shade.  Fortunately, we found this alongside a grove of almond trees in Tours sur Marne.  Now Tours is not only a champagne village, it has 'Grand Cru' status.  We found that one of these offered tours into their cellars.  As the hottest afternoon in France got underway, that sounded a good idea and we headed underground for a personal tour of this small champagne house in lovely cool caves.  We thought of as many questions as possible in order to stay down there.  I reckon we could turn out a decent Brut ourselves now.  The other big advantage of this visit was that we paid for the tour and tasting.  So, we wouldn't need to buy anyone champagne. Yeah, right!  After some very skilled guidance through the tasting process, we bought so much that we had to fetch the car to get it back to the boat.  Julie's mother has never bought champagne in her life.  She bought a case.  And Julie discovered an expensive taste for Ratafia, the liqueur they make from the must left after pressing.

The next day Cat was heading to Paris for a night to meet a friend.  The boy was remaining - in the charge of Grandma, Great Grandma and Skip.  And the thermometer was climbing to 42 degrees.  We didn't go far . . . sought the shade and threw water at dogs, small boys and adults alike.  Everyone survived.  It was market day in Ay and we tried the French idea of buying a spit roast chicken.  It was delicious and sure beat lighting the oven on the boat.  We were moored below vineyards and we sat watching this year's vintage grow.


The next day was time for the boy to leave us.  It rained!

Comments

  1. Unknown7 September 2019 at 10:32

    So glad to see you back ... We had missed your stories. Interesting too about your champagne tastings. We remember doing that in the area of Epernay many years ago. Life now must be a lot quieter but lovely for you to have had this time with your grandson. Much cooler here today. Autumn very much in the air .... Have you had any reaction from the froggies regarding the current shambles of BREXIT? Suspect we, the Brits, are by now the victim of puzzlement and laughter by the locals. Carry on enjoying .... Rosie xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alan and Rosie14 September 2019 at 13:53

    Great stuff, Rob and Julie. An interesting read with super photos AND I'm sure I can smell the champagne from here! Alan

    ReplyDelete

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