Today, 26th May we start Stage 2 of our south to north 900+ mile journey through France.
Day 7 saw us start out from Grenoble and travel along the cycle path south alongside the River Isère. A superbly well marked cycle path with many good views of the river and steep hills beyond. For most of the 112km, I was following the river path.
This is a very popular cycle route, and we saw many travellers like ourselves. One German cyclist I spoke to said he was hoping to get to Avignon that day!
I passed two hydroelectric power stations where there’s a barrage across the river for renewable electricity generation.
Jonathan had gone on as he’s a lot faster than I am, but he’d given me the route so I could follow it on my Garmin.
I stopped at Vinay, which is a rural town near the river. Once, this was a heavy industrial town concerned with iron ore smelting. At a quintessentially French restaurant/bar, I had the most superb beef bourguignon for €17 euros, including a glass of wine & coffee. All very politely served for me sitting outside by the market square.
After some time, I had to leave the river route and head inland towards Valence. This is a very large city. Over 25 km to centre travelling through industrial areas with heavy road traffic. It might have been best to follow the river even though a longer route.
Pleas toast the Rhone when you get to it. Anne and I canoed down it in 2006 from mouth of the Somme all the way to the Med, raising money for Tree Aid and a Romanian charity run by Anne’s sister. Did about 30km/day with the wind behind us.
Thanks Chris and well done regarding your trip in 2006!