Departed Reims along its famous canal and headed south east to the small town of Chalon-en-Champagne a mere 47 km away. The small mileage was due to the midday start after a leisurely breakfast and walk about a desolate and cold Reims with the wifeys. The road out of Reims is flat to start but climbs up over a ridge line before heading out along broad open fields to Chalon-en-Champagne. You're in the heart of champagne country here ....
No lack of these enroute ....
Enjoyed a one-to-one champagne tasting in a lovely, small producer's cellar. She produces 30,000 bottles from 6 ha of vines ....
Cycled past the vines of some famous producers ....
Passed more wonderful houses that I want to own when I grow up ....
And stopped late afternoon for a sugar hit in Chalon-en-Champagne before finding our accommodation ....
Hill of the day - a climb an hour out of Reims. From a distance it looked bad so I noted time and distance. 22 mins to climb 3.1 km straight up.