The cyclists all got up at different times and started their days. One guy was on a Brompton folding bike with only two small bags. He was gone very early.
I went into the town and had a look around. It’s an old, walled city. The walls are of the scale of those in Lucca, Italy and the town is quite nice. It’s pretty cool having walls and fortifications around your village.
From there, I headed back to the bike path and headed towards Mulhouse. It was hot and into the wind and not particularly exciting. After 50kms, I stopped in Mulhouse for some late-ish lunch and then started to leave. I stopped and thought about it.
My plan was to do another 40 or 50kms then find a place to camp. I checked the map and there wasn’t much about and there were fewer supermarkets. As well, the rain was coming in tonight and would last all of tomorrow. I had passed the station a few hundred metres prior and decided that maybe a train would be a good idea. That way, I could avoid most of the rain and not have to get a train again until I reach St. Mitre des Remparts.
I thought I was really smart, bought my ticket, then tried to book a hotel in Lyon. They were just a little expensive to say the least. After almost giving up, I remembered that Airbnb offered private rooms. I’m so glad I checked, because I found a great place not far from the centre of Lyon. Unfortunately, it was up a bloody great hill, then google directed me through a locked gate, but I got there in the end.
The hosts, Olivier and Virginie are wonderful people. I arrived quite late and they were there to meet me at 10:30pm, have a chat and make me a cup of tea. Their house is really nice as well.
It was a long day and a late night, but now I can cycle down the Rhone and make it to St. Mitre des Remparts on time without any more trains.
