Annecy to Le Bourget du Lac

June 29, 2017

Via la montée du Semnoz

We started the day by sleeping in! Not usual for us but we both woke just before 9. I'd woken a few times earlier but didn't check the time. I could hear the rain.

We made it down to breakfast before service ended at 10 and were on our bikes and rolling out of town at 11, or so said the clock on the side of a church. We had discussed whether to do the climb up to Crêt de Châtillon or just take D 912 from Annecy, but it wasn't too hot, in fact it was cool, and the quieter road appealed to us. So up the montée du Semnoz we went.

On the way up we had alternating showers and sun and it was c-c-cold at the top, only 6C. We suited up with sweater, jacket, long pants, toque, and warmer gloves, and felt kind of sorry for all the roadies who only had windbreakers, if that. Funny, I didn't feel sorry for them as they passed me on the way up or zoomed down in the other direction. There were quite a few of them because this climb featured in the 2013 edition of the Tour, according to a sign we saw. Stage finish at the top, no less.

Al stopped and took pictures every kilometre as a keep-warm tactic. Lots of short waits are better than a single long wait when it's cold. He didn't wait for me to get there before continuing, though.

No wonder we saw so many roadies. It's famous!

My bike at the summit. Yes, I rode it there.

Most of the rest of the day was downhill! First, switchbacks down to Leschaux, where we joined D 912 and continued our coast down to Cusy. There was a short bit of gentle up, enough for us to remove our extra layers. In Cusy, we stopped at a conveniently-located and open bakery for delicious pizza (Al) and quiche (me). Those were so good we each had coffee and a pastry for dessert.

View from the descent. An excuse to stop and warm up a bit.

Just as we finished eating, the skies opened. We duly put on our rain jackets and shoe covers, and headed out. Just as we got going, thunder and lightning and sleet! Ugh! Then it stopped.

Just as we left the nice boulangerie in Cusy...

Of course, we couldn't have a day without a few navigational challenges and today they were on the outskirts of Aix-les-Bains. We finally made it onto the bikeway that runs from Tresserve around the south end of Lac du Bourget. By this time the rain had started again with a vengeance and a headwind too. We were glad we had booked a hotel in Le Bourget du Lac and had a dry destination only a few kilometres away! We rounded the south end of the lake and turned north into a headwind. That happens to us a lot. In any case, we soon found the Savoy Hôtel and dripped across their nice marble lobby.

We said we would like dinner in their restaurant, without even checking the price. We did NOT want to go back outside. At 7:30, we presented ourselves to be seated.

There were two menus to choose from, one at 42€ and the other at €49. We chose the less expensive since this was still quite a bit more than we would normally spend. And it was delicious!

A lovely place to stay (and to eat) even if you aren't using it as a haven from the weather. Photo taken during a break in the rain.

We were so glad not to have to go out in that. The photo doesn't show the hail bouncing off the ground.

My entrée, œuf bio cuit 62C. Yes, there's a (slightly) poached egg in there under the greens. It was quite runny and since it didn't come with a spoon, I soaked it up with bread.

Al's entrée, thon rouge (with tataki, anguille fumée brulée, radis, raifort)

My main course, cochon ibérique (translated on the menu as filet mignon, with artichaut, shitaké, and pâte de citron vert). Al had the same.

My dessert, vacherin with roses, litchi, glace verveine

Al's dessert, fraises with Get 27 (?) and chocolate blanc

70 km, ascent 1547 m, descent 1361 m

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Today's ride: 70 km (43 miles)
Total: 189 km (117 miles)

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