We moored Decize in Epinal and took a train south to visit friends. Ana and Frank moved to Beaune a few years ago and we see them more now than we did when we all lived in Houston. Bonus: our hiking buddies, Claire and Joe, were visiting at the same time.

Beaune is the epicenter of the Burgundian wine world. We spent the weekend eating, biking and helping Beaune with its wine surplus.




Some of these vines will produce grapes that will produce $1,000 bottles of wine, i.e. wine we can’t afford.

On theme, we had an amazing dinner at La Lune, a French-Japanese fusion restaurant that seats fewer than 20 people. Highly recommended – make reservations months in advance.
Other culinary highlights included a real martini and popcorn ice cream.



We joke that Ana and Frank are land people because they grow fruits and vegetables of all types (and keep bees). But Frank is building a dory sailboat from a kit to keep his handmade kayak company. It is beautiful.
After our lovely visit we met up with our latest expat, but longtime Houston, friends, John and Michele. They were heading south to their new home in Vaison-la-Romaine.


They were still a bit stunned with the whole moving to France thing, but their very good boy, Hansel, was very excited to be welcomed everywhere.

Roberta and Michele indulged in a bit of retail therapy. Matching shoes!

Too soon it was time to head back north to the boat. We consoled ourselves by a visit to the bar car on the TGV.
