Bike: Saint-Felicien to Saint Etienne, 41 miles, 4100 feet of climb
Accommodation: Les Charmettes (https://www.france-voyage.com/bed-breakfasts/b&b-saint-etienne-137745.htm); hosts Francoise and Olivier Devillard. B&B 1.5mi south of town center; private bath, wifi, washer, kitchenette, terrace, breakfast included. Private one-bedroom suite in the heart of the city with a large, quiet garden.
Dinner: Les Maison
Well, to be honest, I had been dreading this day a little. Forty-one miles with 4100 feet of climb is a bit tough for me. But the climb was gradual enough that I could ride the whole thing, and it was mostly on small roads, and it was pretty, AND it included the Col de la Republique, so we got to bag a Tour de France peak. Pretty cool.
And after that fun, we pulled up to our B&B and met Francoise and Olivier and their dog, and settled in to our roomy suite with doors onto the terrace and garden, and homemade plum crumble, and... Well, this just was the best day ever.
Olivier recommended a restaurant just a 15-minute walk away, and made reservations for us. When we got there, we were the second table to be seated (the French eat late; we eat early). We had a perfect meal with all local ingredients and traditional family cooking, then hiked back up the hill to our big bedroom. We are so lucky.
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| A little bike maintenance at our lunch break. Cleaning the chain. |
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| Riding up the Col de la Republique. |
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| We made it! |
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| I didn't know until we reached the top that this was "The first pass over 1000 meters crossed by the Tour de France cyclists on July 5, 1903." And I made it without walking! |
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| Beaune on the horizon. |
