August 10, 2016
Down the Rhone to Seyssell: Lots of climbing
We had a very pleasant time in Vitam. What intrigued us most was the rock climbing facility, it was massive with climbs of all sorts of difficulty some with terrible looking overhangs. There were huge plate glass windows looking in so we sat and watched the skinny lithe looking climbers for ages. Some were extremely skilful and looked like spiders climbing up the walls. It all looked terrifying to me but I know that Oscar would have just loved it. There was a good restaurant in the complex
It was none of these delights we were interested in, I made a Beeline for the Office de Tourisme and there I met a modern day angel. I laid out our concerns and told her we thought we would ditch the Via Rhona and head instead for Annecy. She showed me how this could work but it came with the warning that the route was very steep and the roads very busy. Why not stick to the much more appealing Via Rhona, she would solve our accommodation problems. A phone call to the Office de Tourisme in Seysell a couple of calls to hotels and we are saved from the bushes and will once more be rolling down the Rhone. where we had a tasty meal before retiring to our very comfortable hotel room - such a change from the previous night.
The breakfast included freshly squeezed orange juice and then we were off. It was fine and cool but the roads for the first hour or two were very busy with lots of trucks as well as cars. Several times trucks stayed behind until a chance came to pass but at other times we had to get off the bikes to let them pass.
We got on to the marked track at Valleiry and followed it all the way. By then we were in lovely French farming country with big areas of apples under shade cloth. We followed into the 'Defile' where the Rhone goes into a deep narrow gorge. Then to our suprise a very long low gear climb for many kilometres. At this stage we were going through forest until finally we reached the summit at Arcine. From here on it continued through farmland and we were passing through tiny hamlets none of which had any services. All of these places however were served by buses.
We finally saw a seat on the approach to Seyssel and had our baguette and Gorgonzola. Seysell is a nice little village just below a dam on the Rhone. The river is narrow here and there is a fairly old bridge. Our hotel is right on the river and adequate. We have looked around the town, met a pleasant Canadian family riding from Lyon to Brig and a extremely nutty lady of around 60 who is by herself and riding from dawn to dark sleeping in her bivy bag under supermarket canopies and the such like. We must be very soft.
I have booked accommodation for tomorrow so everything is under control except for one thing. Since we crossed into France I have been unable to access my emails though everything else works fine therefore the only way we can be contacted at the moment is via CGOABI
Today's ride: 47 km (29 miles)
Total: 363 km (225 miles)
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