Actually, the day started with a easy ride from the hotel, along the river into the main part of Bordeaux and the to the train station.
We stocked up our lunch then headed to find the platform. For the first time we got there with no steps to go down. The train was a two car RER that had plenty of room for the tandem.
Pleasant enough trip and soon we wee looking for a hotel in Pauillac. Pauillac is right on the river, which is pretty broad at this point and has a sleepy, laid back feel.
After changing into our bike gear we were off to explore. Past Château Mouton-Rothchild and Château Lafite Rothchild. We stopped to look at the Château Cos d'Estournel as the were bringing in the grapes from the harvest. We stopped to do some wine tasting and sampled some wines from l'AOC Saint-Estèphe and l'AOC Haut-Médoc. Interestingly, they use American oak as well as the French oak is so expensive. The place we stopped at was a cooperative of a couple of smaller growers.
Back down the hill to the river and we saw fields of the most beautiful wildflowers. Also on the banks of the Gironde River there are wooden carrelets - basically wooded sheds with fishing nets hanging from them which they drop into the river.
Back to town and to the Maison de Tourisme to check out the ferry times for tomorrow. Fortunately we did. Effectively only one option -11:30 or 3:00pm which would be far to late.
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