Charolles to La Clayette

A bit of rain in the forecast didn't dampen our spirits. Anne was under the weather so she couldn't come with us, but she let us use her car so we were enjoying luxury...no bangs, clangs or growling. Elisabeth joined us which helped a lot for navigation as well as adding to the fun. We took the "green" route, a more picturesque narrow road with no traffic.

First stop was the restaurant that serves Charollais boeuf from the white Charollais cows. I don't know why this one wasn't out in the field with the others...maybe looking for more of Harriet Ann?

 Since it began to rain, we skipped hugging any more of the painted cows. Along the way to La Clayette, we paused to view the chateau at Dree. Even at a distance it's impressive.

Our tour continued. The chateau at La Clayette is a private dwelling, not open to the public, but it is beautiful to walk around. A wide moat separates it from the sidewalk and a lake where people can fish and swim is next to it. 

There were fish jumping in the upper section of the moat. I kept snapping pictures in hopes of accidentally catching one at the surface. No such luck.

In the photo above, I  don't know what the bump in the water is, but it's not one of the jumping fish!

This terrace separates the chateau from the lake. It would be a lovely place to hang out.

With a bit of searching we found the chocolatier I remembered from years ago, but his shop was closed and so we headed home. 

 
Here's the valley as seen from our favorite road between Blanot and Cluny. Harriet Ann wanted a good picture of mistletoe and there it was...three decorated trees for three friends...

To our delight, the cows were hanging out at our favorite road sign...

Another day Mimi and Harriet Ann went into Carfour grocery store while I waited in BB. Another car parked in front of me. I know Jack is enjoying my yellow car back in the states...so I couldn't resist this picture even though it's a Peugeot instead of a Honda Fit.