Lyon et Beaune – 17-20 May 2025
The foxes, in a well coordinated rendezvous arrived in Lyon within 15 minutes of each other. Mike had made it from Helsinki, a necessary stopover for a Sauna and a plunge into the harbour. Boxy from Rome where he was administering advice to the new Pope, and Steve and Russ from Sydney who were very pleased with the Emirates wine list.
Welcome drinks on the Rhone, where we caught up with Harvey, who was made an honorary fox for the day (junior division). Then over to the old town for dinner. After the faux pas of the Vegas fried food platter and the Solden cheese platter incident, Boxy has graduated to ordering charcuterie boards much to our relief. Hydro is picking the eyes out of the wine menu, so we have enough cash for the rest of the trip. The restaurant specialty was the sausison which was delivered and served up with much fanfare.
Next day, off to Burgundy. With the usual Fox finesse we managed to get on the wrong carriage and block the aisles with all our luggage preventing any movement and had to de train and re train quickly. Arrived at Beaune, the capital of Bugundy and found that Sunday lunchtime means no Taxis, Ubers or signs of life. So off we went for a 2 km walk dragging 32kgs of gear. Boxy was heard from the back grumbling “I didn’t sign up for this”.
Nice lunch in the middle of town and our first Chablis followed by a cheeky Burgundy. Mike has been referred to the membership committee for the crime of spillage. Two times on tour he has created a murder scene by missing the glass while pouring the red wine. The consequences are thus a) he is now forbidden to touch the wine bottle and b) he will be charged for spillage.
We retired to the courtyard for afternoon tea before heading to a lively pub for another charcuterie and Pinot. This is becoming a theme. Early night.
On Monday we covered the Côte du Beaune. The information was coming faster than the foxes could receive it. Started at Aloxe Corton where Victoria took us through all the workings of their family run vineyard. Thank god Hydro was able to throw in some knowledgeable comments. Boxy learned 3 times today (reduced from 4 under protest from Boxy) that the only white wine in Burgundy is Chardonnay. Lunch at a fabulous restaurant in Meursault “Le Souufleur”
Then off to our second vineyard in Pommand. Excellent tour of the winemaking process and then a ride into the vineyards above Pommand and Mersault for the obligatory album cover shots.
Dinner next door at La Dillitant, a vibrant tapas bar, where the Japanese waitress had worked in Chartered Towers as a teacher 
Russ asked about the difference between the 2022 and 2023 Fourchaumes and was told it was one year or 365 days.
Lunch at maufaux restaurant, another great find and the afternoon spent at Domain long-depaquit, a nice chateau in the middle of Chablis. We then asked Stephen our guide to drive back on the country roads back to Beaune, but he noticed we’d all fallen asleep so took the motorway home without telling us.
Back to la Dilettante restaurant (it was 10 metres from our hotel) for another magnificent night with our host Laurence (LoLo to his mates) and the wonderfull staff. Hydro was in full Burgundian flight, filling in all the gaps from our previous evenings wine selection. The Foxes will leave with fond memories!
The next post will be when we are actually riding!
Silver Foxes Motorcycle Club Australia 