20 June 2025 (sunny and very hot) 58km

Life is very simple on the road and something as simple as not getting good wifi, can throw you out of kilter. Of course, we're still relying on free WiFi as we just can't be bothered with a new SIM and setting it up.

Sitting at our campground last night, the coverage was non existent, hence our blog hasn't been posted for a couple of days.

Last night as we started the dishes, we got talking to Marijke and Ton, a Dutch couple from Arnhem.

He was a good cyclist who did the 100 cols (peaks) in three weeks. That is serious stuff. Done Iron Man etc. Nice guy too.

Marijke was the total opposite. In her own words, she's lazy. She was so funny. Found out they've been together forty years.

Woke at 5am, on the road by 6am. After a very big day yesterday (we always wait for hills or mountains and then throw in big mileage), we were intending to do only around 45kms today. Got to allow for muscles doing more work than they have in a long time.

We leave behind the village of Villerest as the the first rays of sun hit it.

Only problem with this morning was that right out the starting gates we had a helluva climb. Over the first 20kms this morning, we climbed 500 metres. I reckon we climbed 250m of that straight off.

The top of the first hill, we knew we had some work to do, but the severity was in that first effort.

We were, after a while, riding the upper most part of the climb, with stunning views over the far hills and surrounding countryside.

Only took a couple of shots as the camera didn't show the naked eye view.

In Cordelle, we shot into the village as Mapy suggested there was a small shop there. It was actually an Auberge and it was closed. So we retraced our path back to the main road, heading to St. Priest de Roche where Mapy and Google told us there was a shop. It was a nice quiet country road, with only the occasional car.

Somehow, we missed the turnoff to St Priest de Roche but bonus was we ended up seeing the most stunning little Chateau (de Roche).

Obviously that turnoff was meant to be missed.

By now the hills were of a good gradient, and we were mainly following the river Loire, which was nice, quiet and scenic.

Stopped at this shop hoping for breakfast supplies and thought surely with a name like that, it wouldn't let us down. But no bananas, no yoghurt, no baguettes. Where do you go from there?

As we neared Balbigny, so the traffic increased, but by now we were more focused on getting breakfast than losing our nice quiet road.

Found the Intermarche in Balbigny, grabbed our shopping then found some shade in a local park and enjoyed our breakfast.

Riding now was becoming increasingly warmer and you could feel the intensity in the sun.

Feurs was our next and final port of call for the day. We hoped to be in camp for lunchtime to relax, see the township and post the blogs we haven't been able to.

Julia had two sites earmarked. First one in the centre of town, convenient location, but closed up for good.

Next and final camp was 2km out of town. We needed this to work, otherwise it was another 20km ride elsewhere. By now it was 🔥 HOT.

The old couple who greeted us were sweet. In their eighties we think, neither spoke English, but we worked out the deal and at present, it's 1pm and we are the only ones here. There is plenty of lush grass and even though there is only one toilet and one shower, I don't think that will be a problem. 

The real bonus with this site is you can control the water temperature in the very basic shower. Most campsites have push button showers set to an immovable temperature. But the only temperature we wanted was COLD! Julia has already had a cold shower and I've got the powerbank charging. Because we're the only ones here, we can happily charge our phones and powerbanks without fear of them being stolen.

Our tent site has yet to be determined as we are watching for the best shade.

Once we had the washing done and on the line, we started thinking about the necessary trip into Feurs. We were loathe to jump back on our bikes and back into the intense sunshine, but we needed lunch and dinner and preferably internet in a well air conditioned place. 

Sometimes the supermarkets have cafes and WiFi so we checked out Aldi first. No free WiFi and no cafe. So then it was Intermarche. They had free WiFi and a cafe, but the air conditioning was rubbish.

Next up was Burger King and we got the hatrick. Awesome air conditioning and good free WiFi and food and drink to boot. Ordered a burger for me, fries and salad for Ju and a coke. Delicious!

And we got up to date with the blog. We were also trying to find a change of route, but it's increasingly difficult because the places and distances we look at may not tie in with a campground or a supermarket.

In normal temperature circumstances an extra 20km wouldn't matter, but at the end of a tough stint, you don't want to be looking at a 20km add on.

Sunday temperature is expected to be 37 degrees and for the next week nothing below 30 degrees.

Hard enough to sit outside in, let alone cycle up mountains.

We are thinking we may even start cycling at 5.30am.

Before we left the campground for our uncomfortable stinking hot ride into town, a guy who keeps his caravan there for the weekends, turned up. Nice enough, but no English at all.

Back at the site, we put the tent up in the shade and dived into the cold shower. Didn't bother drying off, it only takes a minute without a towel seeing your body.

Had a lovely dinner of roast chicken pieces, green beans, avocado and rice.

As Julia went closer to the house to get reception, I cleaned and lubed both bikes, then finished this blog and sent the photos through, so that YOU....our readers may have the pleasure of a read and a cup of coffee, whilst we're slogging up hill.

Big one tomorrow. Only doing 45kms but over a 1000 metres elevation.