Day Eight

Le Puy en Velay

81 miles 4380 ft climbed

Today was unlike any other day of the tour. Not only was it the last cycling day but we also enjoyed a French breakfast with our hosts Remy & Audrey before starting off with them to take Éline to school.

The other difference to the cycling today was they we were almost exclusively cycling on the road and dealing with traffic as there were no cycle paths. This was not a problem but we had to make sure we were aware of the traffic once again as some sections were quite busy.

Of course at the finish we were welcomed in Le Puy by our families and the twinning committee thanks to Dom and my French mum Silvia!

Leaving Éline and her folks at the school gates we then had an eight mile downhill to the town of Chazelles-sur-Lyon where we bought some local cheese and got our passports stamped a ax well as touring the market.

As we came off the downhill calling in at the small sleepy towns of St Galmier ( where the police appeared to be waiting for someone important) and St Just St Rambert as we skirted round the busy industrial valley surrounding St Étienne airport.

Our coffee stop was arranged after the first significant hill of the day just before the medieval village of Chambles. Here we ended up spending a good 20 minutes or so exploring the feudal tower ( which we shared with a Peregrine Falcon ) and magnificent views over the Loire gorge.

Climbing the tower in our cleated shoes was a careful operation as the ladders and handholds were basic.

The next stage of the route included two big climbs as we temporarily left the Loire valley to go to Pont de Lignon which used to be a pinch point in the main road to Le Puy from St Etienne until replaced by a massive viaduct.

Having descended we now had to go back up for our very last lunch stop which Nigel had as usual arranged at the top of a hill with terrific views.

With only 27 miles to go I alerted the welcoming committee in Le Puy and we set off for the last two hours or so of our ride.

Although the road was slightly uphill following the river it was smooth and we were able to tap along at a reasonable pace. As usual we were keen to get our passports stamped up but apart from the early success in Chazelles all the Office de Tourisme we came across were closed Those we got to in the morning were open in the afternoon and those I. The afternoon open in the morning!

As the mairie next to the tourist office in Vorey was open I thought to chance our luck there. Whilst I had to wait for a young lady register her unemployment status I was thinking our banal request for a stamp would be frowned upon. In fact the lady was more than helpful and we got a proper Camino stamp she also offered to top up our water bottles. Today was in fact the hottest day of the tour and all three of us didn’t get told off by Nigel as we were actually drinking our bottles!

Having initially thought we’d not get to Le Puy until 6 pm our more rapid finish meant that only the traffic in Le Puy itself stopped us getting there by 5. In fact we ended up cutting across the town square to avoid the jam to be welcomed by our flag waving reception committee

Having arrived to the cheers we then we treated to a celebratory drink in the park by Le Puy’s twinning committee.

Whilst the cycling part of the tour is over, once again we have linked this to the UTMB trail races in Le Puy ( which Dom & Richard) are taking part amongst our other Tonbridge team runners.

I will post results update and reflection on another successfully completed NBJ Tour in a couple of days.