We started from Villeblois with a very picturesque 13kms along the banks of the Rhone so scenic we might aswell have walked it hubby snapping away. so much. The next section has big warning signs and red lines on the map indicating heavy traffic hence we decided to divert off the Rhone route on country lanes to Perouges a walled mediavel town.When we looked at cycling tours with this itinerary this is what they all do, so we copied their routes. It looked like coffee places were thin on the ground but in one town we were directed to the bakery, although the owner wasnt too happy with hubby trying to request extra lait etc. You got what came out of the machine in a paper cup and no variations! I didnt dare ask for tea I just went for the hot chocolate.There were tables outside so we did have somewhere to sit and hubby was able to choose a little treat from the pattisserie section.

A few people today were impressed with our laden bikes, I think the bed and breakfast we stayed in Villebois thought we were mad.I did enjoy the plenty of “Bon courage ” we received , gave me a little extra umph. This was required as my bike back tyre with the new inner tube wasnot seated properly so my bike was wobbly and bumping with every rotation. I need balancing…it did improve however as the day went on.

A delightful town of Meximeux for lunch we stuck to 3 courses instead of 4 as we had a pretty good breakfast.The food was great superb duck , I thought there was wolf on the menu to the amusement of the waitress it was a wolf fish!

Onto Perouges and like any mediavel walled town it has to be at the top of a hill.We were able to leave our bikes and luggage at our bed and breakfast, we had just walked up into Perouges when hubby said are you sure thats where we are booked as I had just said we are here. He planted a seed of doubt in my mind so back we went to check, yes it was the right one.A wedding was happening luckily it wasnt too hot poor bridesmaids having to walk up the hill in their high heels.The bride did come up in a car.It wasnt an organ playing the wedding march , they had 10 horn players I presume they were french horns. All dressed in tneir mediavel robes, the fanfare was amazing really echoing through the church and outside.Great exhibition in one of the houses on Antoine Saint-exupery pilot and writer apparently his book The little Prince is one of the classics of the 20th century add it to my reading list!

Not such a great night in our bed and breakfast hubby was too tall for the bed. He didnt want his feet cut off so then it was furniture manouevering to put the mattress on the floor. At breakfast we chatted to the german couple next to us and they had had the same problem.I’m not prone to worst case scenarios but I wasnt keen on sleeping with a chest of drawers blocking the door and an old rickety electric fan blowing on us to keep hubby cool…..

We set off the wrong way 1km uphill, chatting away at breakfast is clearly not a good idea I should have been perusing the route! It was 20kms before we reached the safety of the well signposted Rhone route, we made it without too many delays trying to beat the heat of 35C and humidity. En route passed a large german cemetry near Balan one of the rare ones in this region from the 2nd world war.

Quite picturesque with the blue lake area full of familys enjoying picnics and barbqs. A few brave souls were swimming despite all the warnings signs of risks and perils.It was well signposted into Lyon fortunately as very convulted at times crossing canals , barages and railways.

We are staying in a mediavel appartment block Unesco listed so very worn smooth stone spiral steps. We of course are on the top floor all I can say is glad we don’t have suitcases!We have been to Lyon once before and do love it, so a couple of nights to replan our journey. We were continuing north on the Saone canal cycle route but 40C and humidity is forecast and unless we are in appatrments we cant start cycling at 5am and check in is often not till 3 -5pm by which time at 40C we would be inert and of course its hard to find air conditioning in bed and breakfasts/ hotels in France.

Might be time to divert off to the atlantic coast…