Day 20 Macon to Lyon

Thursday June 29th

It rained all night again. If there was thunder and lightning then I slept through it. It was still spitting rain when I got up later than usual. No alarm.

Macon as I left

The first job of the day was to put my new tyre on. It is 4mm wider than the previous one. It seemed daft to carry a new tyre as a spare. It went on with a bit of a struggle.

I went to the tourist office for information about cycling to Lyon but they were singularly unhelpful. They seemed to be there to sell things rather than provide info.

I decided that I would stick to the roads today. However my progress was constantly hindered by a stiff headwind which made the relatively flat road hard work.

It was a showery day. Waterproofs on - waterproofs off. However I was really lucky when I stopped at a boulangerie for something for lunch at about 14.00. Dejeuner at 14.00 ?? As I was eating my cheese sandwich in the square outside the heavens erupted and I just had time to get under cover before the real deluge. Thunder and lightning and hailstones the size of marbles were lashing down. It cleared up as fast as it arrived and I was on my way within half an hour but if I had been in the open!

Looks like more rain

The rest of the afternoon passed without incident until I got within about 10 kms of the campsite. Then it became clear that it couldn't be reached without going on the motorway or the RN7 which had become a motorway.

TWO hours later I was getting further away and climbing my tenth steep hill! What a nightmare. One hour later I was within 5 kms when I stopped to ask a man who was standing by his gate if he knew the way to Camping Indigo at Dardilly.

He said that he knew it but that it would be difficult to get there on a bike - tell me about it! He offered to let me camp in his 2 hectare garden or he would put my bike in his car and take me there! It must be my little boy lost look!

What a saviour. What a gentleman. What a heart warming gesture. I never cease to be amazed at how far people will put themselves out to help you. So he folded down the seats of his Citroen Picasso and helped me to take off my panniers then he helped me to shoehorn my bike in his car. After providing me with a cold beer he took me to the campsite which was a very circuitous route. He made sure that there was a place for me before leaving with my thanks ringing in his ears.

This is virtually the only campsite within striking distance of Lyon.

Tomorrow will be a rest day.

Washing.
Planning.
Bike lubricating
Shopping
Visiting Lyon.
Quite a rest.

29/06/17    Thursday       Camping Indigo                    Dardilly                 €17.55                          4

very dark, shady,  ACSI rate, excellent facilities,  bar, pizza restaurant,  pool, transport to lyon