Day Two

 

7.00am: Out of the train, chuck the panniers back on the bikes and into Annecy, asleep by lake. After a twist here and a turn there, we followed the Albertville signage so as to pick up the 32-mile cycle route to Albertville. This is a stand alone path for most of the way, along the very pretty Lac d'Annecy. If you want to overdo it with pastries and coffee first thing find a café in Annecy as there was nothing open at this hour until Le Brouillet.

Albertville held only one interest for us: the funtabulous Decathlon and its shiny outdoory sporty things that people come hundreds and hundreds of yards to see and touch. We indulged in a blanket, airbed, USB charger pack and the ever so necessary Primus Gas. What with the Euro hovering just above the floor, the gear was almost dirt cheap. Darned awkward to find the store though. After doubling back we found a quiet road that doubled as a cycle route that took us westwards and downhill beside the ice blue l'Isere on its way to la Rhone at Grenoble.
We lunched on Intermarche taboula by a lagoon before turning left at Aiton to head upwards and southeastwards to La Chambre against the flow of l'Arc.
Today's ride is all about warming up for the following days and their cols. The road was busy - the D1091, another route across the Alps was shut closed due to a landslip.

A cup of tea at La Chambre brought back fond memories of the last time we had a cup of tea at La Chambre. Once again it was gearing up for a visit by the TDF, already underway and in Brittany.
Beyond La Chambre the valley becomes industrial with several quarries chewing away at the receding granite batholiths. The road gets busier with dusty trucks but after a while we arrive at St. Michel de Maurienne. The very welcoming but strange campsite of Le Marintan is right at the end of the town. Its tent pitches are small levelled areas on terraces set in a steep hill side. Le Marintan is a base for cyclists having a go at the cols that line the valley - the most infamous being the Telegraphe-Galibier combo. But it is also well placed for La Madeleine, Glandon, Croix de Fer and a bunch more. Swanky chalets can be rented if you don't fancy bending your tent pegs in the cement-like earth. A small Carrefour in the town will help out with banana supplies for the hatful of rides.
For the most part, this 81-mile gentle ride is beautiful as you head from the green moistness of the Rhone Alpes towards the drier Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.