Our trip to Chablis and Avallon took us through the Cher Valley, the southern end of the Sologne, and the northern part of the old Berry province before we crossed the Loire River and entered the region called La Bourgogne.
Open roads through the vineyards of Sancerre and Pouilly
As we approached the wine-and-cheese town of Sancerre (don't French towns sound like so many fancy parties?) we made the decision to bypass the town to the south and head directly into the neighboring wine town of Pouilly-sur-Loire on the back roads.
Tree-lined highways through the Berry countryside
There is a bridge across the Loire River at Pouilly, and we had a restaurant in mind for our lunch there.
At Pouilly, a narrow bridge across the wide Loire River
As you can see, there wasn't an awful lot of traffic (read: "almost none") on the roads of the region, despite the fact that this is a major school vacation period in France. It's the Toussaint, or All Saints' Day, which includes the Hallowe'en holiday.
Villages that look deserted, especially at lunchtime
Maybe the lack of traffic had to do with the showery, windy weather. People just stayed home.
You see more farm equipment than passenger cars on the roads.
Walt was driving and I was navigating, so I had time to snap pictures of the roads and roadsides as we drove along.
Choose your direction and destination...
As usual, you can click or tap on the images to see them at full size.
Must remember, next time we go over toward Sancerre...
ReplyDeleteto go north and then across...
far more interesting than our more direct via Chatellerault....
and the vast flat plains thereafter!!
Thank you for taking us for another drive!
Looks like there is quite a bit of mistletoe in the trees lining the road. Can you explain the S/ and the S/S in the last photo?
ReplyDeleteAndrew, the S/ means sur or "on" as in Pouilly "on" (the) Loire. The S/S means sous as in "below" — Ménétréol "below" Sancerre. The abbreviated forms are especially, maybe only, used on road signs.
DeleteI'm enjoying traveling along with you two... euuh three (ruff ruff). ;)
ReplyDeleteI think you meant Pouilly-sur-Loire and not Pouilly-sur-Cher.
ReplyDeleteMerci, Monsieur le Réviseur. C'est corrigé.
DeleteLOL!
DeleteI love mistletoe. At my place we bring it to home for Christmas and it means happiness and love. Tree -line highways are lovely but not too safe..
ReplyDeleteThey were safe before the automobile was invented, but not now, I guess. They are still picturesque.
DeleteIn fact, guard rails along the roadway can greatly reduce the danger of cars colliding with trees.