Ride 2 - Beaujeu, Lemure, Perreon, Odenas

The clouds broke, so Bill and I set out for our first full day of riding post travel. We felt so good and strong with food in our bellies. We laughed at the cows along the pastures with Chateaus in the distance callingout Moo and Muex and Meau realizing all cows are bilingual.
Our first good long climb took us from Beaujeu to Chenelette at 953m or a total of 2000 feet in 20 miles when the heavens opened up and reminded me not of a fragile Seattle rain but a pure Miami summer squal. Arriving in Lamure we sought out a place to grab something warm; a local bar/cafe/tobaci - where the two of us spandex clowns entering the bar was probably equal (or on par) to the circus coming to town.
After a warm cafe and the most delicate spinach quiche, complete with lots of chivering (from being drowned rats desending down the valley for 30minutes at 30mph) we both agreed to find the route back home with a nice climb.

We did! The climb and subsequent down hill was magical. In fact I can think of only one other climb that felt more spiritual (filling the heart) than this descent off Col de Croix Montmain into the sweet town of le Perreon. The drop from the heavens (once in clouds) down the windy clear road carving through the patchwork of vineyards took my breath away. This one ride made the trip...even before we get to the Alps.

Now back at our Hotel, I'm sipping hot water with fresh lemon verbina from the garden of our Chateau as I wait my turn for a hot shower. Yes! Here arethe stats for the day from my blackberry...
Temp: 71F
Cloudy skies with periods of light to moderate rain.

Distance: 50 miles (70km)
Ascend: 4970 feet
Time: 3hrs 40 minutes
Calories burned: 1450 (excluding thosed used to keep me warm)