The short hop was fine..except for where there was a massive motorway junction where 3 motorways joined / separated & some bright spark put a peage area right where it caused the most disruption. 45 minutes later we were off again & the traffic was quite heavy until we got around Angers. We can't complain – our first traffic hold up in 4 months. We got to the site whilst the reception was closed so we had a late lunch whilst waiting outside the barriers. A few cyclists turned up laden with gear everywhere possible, including a family of 5! The chap had a tandem arrangement behind his bike for two children & Mum had the baby of c.24 months behind her with lots of gear, including Pampers & potty. Barking mad? Thankfully again, they had ... read more

Found 4 hairdressers (!) in this little village/town on the interweb, so chose the first (Jackie) & cycled into town which was only a mile or so away. My bicycle rear wheel was making more funny noises... The salon mixte couldn't fit us in but I think they took pity on les poor rosbifs & asked us to come back in half an hour which meant they would miss part of their lunch (2) hour. Whilst we waited I fixed my bike which worked this time... Back to Jackie's - it was like Mr & Mrs- sat next to each other having our hair washed though I did feel a bit of a big girl having it washed in the ladies sink with my head back. The ladies touch (steady) made up for it though I ... read more

Slept like a very loggy log & we didn't awake until 8.30! After brekkers, we bought the tickets for the trip into Lyon, tremendous value. Under £2 to take you into Lyon station on a bus which took c30 minutes, the metro into Vieux Lyon, another 10 minutes & the funicular railway up to Notre Damme de Fourviere where we started our day out- & it was magnificent & very ornate built by the people of Lyon for prayers answered for the saving of the people from cholera & plague, then later from wars in the 1800's. Then down to Cathedral of St. Jean the Baptiste which was very simple in comparison but architecturally grand all the same. Then across the Soane via Pont Winston Churchill & the Rhone via Pont Wilson (not Harold I'm sure) ... read more

July 31st After the breakfast watching we did the machine washing a day earlier than normal as the forecast wasn't that good. Having hung it out in 28* heat & had lunch we set off on the bicyclettes to find Embrun...& failed. The village of Chateauroux is on the corner of 4 maps, a bit like Wigginton & the little shop would only let you borrow one at a time! Anyway, besides it was very hot & not surprisingly the roads were a bit on the hilly side! Plus the clouds looked testy. Having drunk all our water after about an hour we decided to go back & go another day. I remembered that my phone will direct us there so long as the battery & signal holds... In the afternoon Cathy prepared a route plan ... read more

When I set the Dyson, the route here took us on the motorway north via Turin then down to Embrun which wasn't in the plan at all. So we chose another route, shorter, more time consuming but through the country & what a great decision it was too! I know that it's only 3 months since we've seen the Alps, but this road was one of the, if not the best we have ever been on. Part of it was La Grande Route des Alps apparently. Anyway, it was fantastic...it took us about 6 hours (including lunch & a quickshop) It just got better & better; every time you went round a corner there was another incredible view – if you haven't been here, then do! I've seen the Alps when skiing which is tremendous but ... read more