Rolling down the Rhone
With a new back tire, Marcus and I are back in the game. We both felt good today, rolling 124 km along the Via Rhona, a mostly paved path that follows the Rhone River, apparently the only major European river that flows into the Mediterranean.
Arrived in Vienne yesterday, a pleasant town situated on a big bend of the Rhone. Vienne was once the capital of the Allobroges before Julie Caesar showed up in 47 BC, and the town became a centre of Roman influence. As a result, there is still some old Roman stuff in Vienne, including the Temple of Augustus and Livia and the remains of a theatre that once had a capacity of 10,000. The theatre is still used today for concerts.
Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia, in Vienne
Morning in Vienne
Leaving Vienne this morning, the sky was blue and cloudless. I passed vineyards clinging to steep hillsides, rode through small farms and apple orchards, and along paths shaded by canopies of trees. And I’m back following Trubetskoy’s subway map of Roman roads, Now, on the purple line, heading south on what would have been the Via Agrippa.
In Saint Vallier, I stopped at a Boulangerie for a ham and cheese sandwich. Scanning the deliciousness that was the entire display case, my eyes fancied an almond croissant, which would be my afternoon snack. (despite its delectableness, it didn’t resemble a croissant)
Across the river, I found a table and bench and pulled the sandwich from my bag. The French know how to make good bread, which surprised one person I told this to yesterday, because as they said, it's not like the French have a secret recipe they are keeping from the world. Perhaps, it begins with quality and freshness. You won't find bread here in plastic bags.
I’ve been thinking the past few days that the French need to change their flag. Wait, here me out. They should ditch the boring striped tri-colour flag that is hardly unique among European countries and replace it with green on the bottom to represent the vast green fields I’ve seen across this country, bright yellow on the top half to represent the vibrant rapeseed fields, and then put a baguette in the middle of the flag. It’s an idea worth considering, I dare say.
The Via Rhona is a well-signed cycleway