Old house beneath the mountain

Today we had a very long, very exhausting walk along the Rhone in extremely high temperatures and very little shade.

We started from our holiday house in Chanaz on the Canal de Savieres and followed the river. We watched a pleasure boat coming through the automatic lock that we had been through yesterday , and watched the countless swans gliding along the river. Our route followed the St Jaques de Compostella chemin. We passed lakes that were beng dredged for cement and about one hour was spent walking along a virtually straight path of cement and shingle. The Rhone was hidden from view by tall plants and there was no shade. As the path opened out we could see on the other side of the river vineyards climbing the lower part of the mountains and pretty houses clinging to the sides of them.

We crossed the Rhone with trepidation. Walkers were not considered on this bridge as the cars and lorries rushed by. We eventually arrived on the outskirts of Culoz and continued alongside the railway line for a few miles until we eventually arrived at the station and were able to cross the bridge to go into town.

There was a lovely church (closed) at the foot of the mountains with a park alongside where we had our picnic. My blip is of a very elegant old house being towered over by the Grand Colombier.

To cut a long story short, or so they say, we attempted to find a town centre or a shop that sold a cold drink. But to no avail. We walked for a long time around new housing developments and industrial estates and had difficulty finding our way back to the bridge over the Rhone.

Culoz was a great disappointment although the mediaeval quarter, where we had our picnic, had some pretty streets and buildings.

We arrived back in Chanaz feeling very tired and I managed to fall over twice, once climbing up the footbridge over the canal, and again on gravel down a drain next to the house. So returning with bloodied knees i was grateful to get back and consume litres of water.

It was take away pizza again tonight and a bottle of the local wine. Relaxing now on the balcony that overlooks the canal, watcjing thd sunset.My extra shows this part of the house.