On Day 6, Paul's roaming around Roman ruins...
It felt great to wake up and know that if I wanted to ride my bike, I could - and if I wanted to throw it in the river, that too was an option. Taking back control eh?
As it was, I decided to pop to the local bike shop and buy a couple of inner tubes, then strike out for central Lyon.
It’s a beautiful city on many levels. I know this because I chose to ride up them all - the result being that when I said I was 65 to gain free entry to a museum toilet at the top of one unreasonably punishing hill, they didn’t question me, they just ushered me in and asked if I needed any help.
Lyon was the capital of Gaul when Hadrian was kicking about - and I’m quite sure he stayed for a show at the recently completed amphitheatre. He had a choice though; there’s also a massive big old amphitheatre at Vienne just 30k down the road - which is where I elected to stay once more.
Getting to Vienne is a lovely easy ride down by the side of the Rhone on pristine cycle lanes - so I don't know why I decided to follow Google Maps’ suggestion and go inland over several 300m climbs. Ho hum.
The last time I was in Vienne was with Dave on our first trip in 2012. I texted him to tell him I was staying in then exact same hotel, and he asked if the decor was still a vile yellow (funny the things that stick in your memory) - and it is! Exactly! I’ve a feeling they’re still using the same towels too, but it’s clean and welcoming.
I walked around Vienne with a lovely kebab, and eventually found the amphitheatre - it shouldn’t have been difficult, it’s about the same size as Wembley. I chatted with the lady selling tickets to the site, and ended up showing her road signs of Segedunum and Hadrian’s Wall I’d snapped weeks earlier. She was so impressed that she suggested I told her I was 65 to get free entry and save 3 euros. I DIDN’T EVEN PROMPT HER!
After further wanderings, and a cooling glass of beer, I decided Vienne wouldn’t be the worst place you could live. It’s charming, ancient, but a working town with busy streets and people with a purpose.
But tomorrow it will be time to move on. I fancy the nougat capital of the world Montelimar as my next stop. Let’s see if the legs fancy the 75 miles peddling to get me there.
A quick selfie with the Lyon skyline...
...before stopping at a local bike shop to buy some inner tubes.
Passing the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière.
Roaming around the remnants of the Ancient Theatre of Fourvière.
At the Ancient Theatre of Vienne... finally!
Ending a day of sightseeing by having a beer outside the Temple of Augustus and Livia.
