Alsace Wine Tour 2023 – Beaulon

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Port Melay to Beaulon

We wake here at the aire de camping cars at Beaulon to another roasting hot day with wall to wall blue sky . It is Gill’s birthday and there are messages and videos from the family, no cards or presents this year… and perhaps we enjoy these messages (written and spoken) more.

After breakfast we look at the map and have to decide whether to stay or move on. On balance it is better to stay: hot day, place in the shade under the trees with a ‘watery view’!

Here at Beaulon there are in fact two facilities; we are on the Halte Nautique adjacent to the Lateral Canal of the Loire, about 200 metres away is an aire de camping cars. So if visiting you may have a choice. The aire de camping cars has excellent disposal facilities and is equipped with a modern pay station for the purchase of fresh water. The difference is apparent from the photos below.

The Halte Nautique is really a boat stop plus motorhome pitches, while the aire de camping cars can be thought of as an overflow area. In reality the aire de camping cars is a good overnight stop, almost level with good facilities. It does have trees but they would not provide as much shade as on the Halte Nautique.

Today we have a lazy day, we watch our neighbours, coming and going, women washing clothes (!!), the guynext to us has had a stroke in the past and spends time fishing from his mobility scooter, the ‘fat man’ talking to everyone at the water tap, some reading, napping, dreaming.

We have a quiet day too, relaxing and pleasing ourselves. In the afternoon, Alan braves the intense sun and walks slowly to the village, stopping off at the canal lock then along the footpath to the village. There is one shop, a curious mix of gifts, bread, cold drinks etc. Two cans of cold beer and a baguette are purchased. Alan also visits the church and discovers a wonderful painting on the wall behind the altar; the painting is full of symbolism. There’s a very expressive poem quote . . .

Je ne peux pas rester longtemps dans ton église,
en laissant brûler ce cierge, c’est un peu de moi que je peux Te donner.
Aide-moi à prolonger me prière dans les activités du jour.
Amen.

Chicken salad with a bottle of Patrick Schwob’s special Gewürztraminer, then in the evening another walk by the Canal Lateral at Beaulon.

Click any image to enlarge.