Le Lac d’Issarlès to Retournac
When I woke up this morning, I was on the fence about whether to go only as far as Le Puy-en-Velay as planned — another short ride, given that I’d started a day early and already banked a few dozen kilometres — or push on further. I decided to play it by ear.
I left Lac d’Issarlès just after 8am. Le Puy was around 45 kilometres away and I figured it wouldn’t be too hard. It wasn’t too hard — it was simply hard, thanks to several long climbs. Still, I made it before noon.
On the way in, I’d spotted the ruined Château de Beaufort, which I take to be the first castle along the Loire proper.
I didn’t linger much in Le Puy itself: the old town is steep and cobblestoned, but I managed the cathedral — yet another one.
Since it was too early to call it a day, I kept going. Glad I did: the road hugged the river closely and ran mostly downhill. I passed a few campsites before eventually having enough and stopping at Retournac. Despite the name, I am not turning back. I suspect I’ll adjust my plans and overachieve. Again.
Today in numbers:
86 km — distance cycled
213 — Russian cast-iron cannons captured during the Siege of Sevastopol were used to cast Notre-Dame de France statue looming over Le Puy-en-Velay