Day 24 Seyssel to Geneve then Chateauneuf sur Isere

Monday July 3rd

My Grenoble friend

Last evening as I was checking in at the campsite reception a French randoneur arrived on a racing bike  pulling a trailer. He was a land surveyor from Grenoble. We chatted and exchanged stories and we ended up pitched together.

Because of the fete that was on in Seyssel for Sunday July 2nd there was a special menu in the camp restaurant  of" ribbs and frites" and a band playing. We ate together and had ONE beer and put the world to rights. But discussing world affairs in French with an 8 piece band in your face and knackered from a long day and only ONE beer eventually became too much and I excused myself to phone Pauline.

big sky

This morning he offered to guide me on an easier (than the Via Rhona) route to Geneva which was on his way to a tour of northern Switzerland.  With some misgivings I agreed and we set off . He  was 35 on a racing bike! We left the site and it was straight up a hill. After a brief respite  we turned off the Via Rhona onto the D14 which proceeded to go up and up  and up and up. If this was the easy way .....
Eventually to save my face and  my legs I had to advise him to go on as I couldn't keep up.

Rhone is getting smaller

Just then Pauline phoned and she could hear my heavy breathing. The route did eventually get flatter but it was the hilliest stage since the Ardennes. However what goes up must come down so there were some fine descents.

The iconic fountain on the Lac Leman

I eventually rolled into Geneva about 13.00 and visited the tourist information and took the obligatory photo in front of the fountain. (I FORGOT TO PUT ON MY T-SHIRT which  had looked out last night.)

The lady in the tourist information showed me a relief map of my proposed route to Valence and added to the info from my French friend from Grenoble and the fact that my legs are aching I have done a "wild thing" and I am on the train to Valence.

It was a spur of the moment decision. My celebratory bike ride  was in danger of turning into an endurance test. Valence to Raissac in 7 or 8 days should be much more comfortable.



I have after all cycled in 8 countries. The short cycle in Geneva was more than enough. Switzerland is supposedly  cycle friendly - Geneva certainly wasn't. In two hours I was honked at several times had buses with four or five coaches brush past my panniers and I was "cut up" by a police motorcycle!

YES!

The fact that I had no idea how to get back out also helped my decision to get on the train

The train reached Valence at 18.30 and the temperature was immediately different - much warmer. However the tourist information office (which had moved twice since I was last here) was closed so I was on my own with only  Google by my side. It appeared  the  nearest campsite was 10 km north against a stiff Mistral which I hope for tomorrow  (not against obviously )

busy central Geneva

Duly installed in a lovely 4 star ACSI site with pool and lots of facilities that I don't need. However there is a tariff randoneur of 10 euros.

I was tempted to stay for the day but there is no shop so I would end up in the restaurant and the bar. How awful.

03/07/17    Monday        Le Soleil Fruite                    Chateauneuf sur Isere             €12.60             4.5

large family site with pool excellent restaurant bar toilet facilities 10kms to Valence