Day 50 to 53 Belmont-Trominet to Lyon, Lyon, London

85 km (53 miles) day, 2,442 miles total.

The tour ended, not with a bang but with a whimper. On leaving the campsite, the road to Lyon progressed across a series of low ridges and valleys with occasional, unremarkable villages. Lyon is a big city, the second largest in France. It starts about 30km outside the centre - marked by dual-carriageway roads, commercial distribution centres, commuter towns and retail outlets. I arrived at my hotel in Lyon having not seen anything worth photographing. Hotel was really nice and I settled in for a relaxing evening and to make detailed plans for my wine related visit to Mâcon the day after. The following morning dawned, for the first time, cool and wet. I had no difficulty locating a train and arrived in Mâcon around 10:30. Mâcon in on the river Saune and has the umbrella street decorations seen twice before. After a brief tour I set off for Solutré-Pouilly which the tourist office told me had a facility for tasting the local produce. Weather cold and rainy! Lots of Chardonnay grape vines in evidence (this area only grows this grape). Arrived at the encouraging looking wine tasting facility (lots of people drinking) and asked to try - only to be told they were closing for a two hour lunch in two minutes (12:00 on a holiday Saturday) but I would be welcome to come back at 2:00. France! A one-horse village, raining, everything (by this I mean two things) closed. I declined but asked if the guide knew if any of the many local Chateau/Domaines, that were shown on my tourist map to welcome visitors, were open. She did not. Decided to cut my losses and return to Mâcon for a big lunch. Past a big rock that is locally famous for having prehistoric remains (opening hours of shops have survived to this day). It had a snack bar that served two types of Chardonnay based wine - I tried both. The Pouilly-Fuisse was OK but I liked the Saint-Véran best. Returned for a good lunch in Mâcon passing several “ouvrir” wine establishments which were not. Returned to Lyon, philosophical regarding my forgetting France is mostly closed to visitors. Sunday dawned bright and sunny and needed to pack my bike for the courier. Tore a muscle in my lower back while doing so - the only proper injury of the tour. Made a gallant attempt at being a tourist in Lyon - which is a nice city on a Sunday (open!), selling art, cakes, wine and - glory of glories - full English breakfast in a pub! Had this for brunch (delicious) but had to return to hotel due to the pain of my back.

Stressful Eurostar journey back to England the following day with heavy panniers, bad back, but plenty scotch. That’s it. Or is it? I’ll finish this blog with part of a walking song from Lord of the Rings. Thanks for keeping me company on this journey! Love to all. ❤️

Still round the corner there may wait

A new road or a secret gate,

And though we pass them by today,

Tomorrow we may come this way

And take the hidden paths that run

Towards the Moon or to the Sun.

Mâcon