Day 52: Fri 14 Jul - Mâcon to Lyon, 84km; total: 1,121km

15-32 degC, sunny with a slight headwind early and a bit stronger later; lucky we were going down hill ish (down river) most of the day 

Walk: 3km; total: 374km

Because it is Bastille Day today, breakfast did not start until 7:30am, something they forgot to mention at check-in. Not a problem; we went back to our room and packed up as much as we could. After breakfast, we were on the road at 8:45am, with the first 500m being downhill. We didn’t even have to pedal. We stopped four times for breaks and a few other times for photos. The paths we rode on today were really smooth, with the exception of the odd track here and there, but no more than 500m.  We suspect on those occasions we might have missed a sign? We arrived at our hotel, Greet Hotel Lyon Confluence, about 3:15pm. Our first room was in the new part of the hotel. The room was split level with killer stairs up to the bedroom, from the bathroom and another single bed, that was in an attic style space with an angled ceiling. Greg had to duck under to get to his side of the bed. Fail that room. On requesting another room, the man said he only had rooms in the old part of the hotel on the 4th floor and the elevator is not working (there is a separate lift for the new part of the hotel). Even though there are 85 steps to get to the 4th floor, we don’t have to negotiate them at midnight on our way to the loo, so we opted for the new room, #408. 

After unpacking and resting in the aircon while watching the TDF, we went to search for dinner. 3km later we were back in our room with our favourite salads and drinks. We had to source the beers from a corner store as Carrefour had decreed not to sell alcohol after 5pm last night and tonight (Bastille Day celebrations). Not quite as bad as some WA and NT liquor laws, however, it is all about keeping the minority out of trouble (because they can’t be trusted to keep themselves out of trouble). The majority have to suffer the inconvenience all the time. But whilst Wendy was purchasing her two beers, a man was trying to stuff a carton of pre-mixed drink (rum of some sort) into a back pack that was not big enough. So, why does a big supermarket bother? 

After dinner, Greg went for another short wander. Showers, teeth, blogging and bed, after a longer than usual, but enjoyable, day in the saddle. We both must be getting fitter as we managed to finish our ride quite easily. Then again it was fairly flat. 

Leaving Mâcon this morning, three river cruise ships in port and many contrails in the sky

River scenery, the river was beautiful today 

Can’t resist the swans and their cygnets 

A few of the good paths we rode on today

This one had the road for cars, the two way bike path and a pedestrian walkway 

One of the particularly bad paths we encountered today, we may have missed a sign. 

Mornos stop

A couple of nice bridges

This one had been converted to bicycles/pedestrians only. 

Paul Bocuse (dec) restaurant, the famous chef we described on our previous stay in Lyon

Back to where it all started almost seven weeks ago

Room #408, Greet Hotel Lyon Confluence 

The first room we we allocated, didn’t take a photo of the killer stairs

Eglise Sainte Blandine, Greg couldn’t go a day without photographing a church;

on the dinner walk