The trip was delayed due to Covid and so the front end had to be modified somewhat to place us in Morocco at the correct time. So from Paris we had to put in three long days down to Malaga. The objective day one was Bordeaux. 600 plus km days require the use of toll roads – and today we spent most of our time travelling them. Payment options include cash, credit card and (we’re guessing) transponder. We relied on credit for the most part with cash payment (quite embarrassing, not a good plan to drop your change!)
Leaving Paris was fun. Scooters were out in force and could suddenly appear without warning bobbing and weaving in the traffic, splitting lanes and just otherwise blowing by our own stolid pace. Kept us on our toes.
The toll roads cut a swath across the French countryside, with a service center every 50 km or so, shared among the majors (Shell, Total, Esso, BP) which was good because at 130 km/hr we went through it quickly!
I’ve visited the vineyards in BC – they are quaint and rather tiny. The Napa Valley in California is much more expansive. But the vineyards in Bordeaux extend to the horizon – like Saskatchewan wheat fields only with grapes. Pretty obvious what Bordeaux is famous for.