Lyon – Arles – Plage Napoléon – Montpellier

01.06.2023_ Bonjour LYON bienvenue de retour. After a short tour of the city, the cycle path takes us out of the metropolis to the point where la Saône et le Rhône join. The confluence of two such mighty rivers is gigantic and I find it a fitting place to take a photo right here with my companion. Beat Gilgen spontaneously agreed to pedal with me from Lyon to the Mediterranean. We used to ride in the same cycling club and have known each other for decades.
According to the motto „together we are strong“, we cycle downstream along the Rhone. We diligently take turns to lead the way. The many bridges are striking, one more beautiful than the other. The cycle route also impresses with the ingenious pistes cyclables, which never end…. There are no cars here, which makes it all the more relaxing for us cyclists.
During the day we cycle through famous wine regions. In the evening, at dinner, we can enjoy the fine wines of the Côte du Rhône… knowing full well that there are no climbs the next day and hoping for a tailwind to easily overtake the numerous e-bike riders. After the photo shoot of the famous Pont d’Avignon, we pedal at high speed to Arles.

The French accent practised by the population in this region sounds somewhat unusual to foreigners. Perhaps that is why, to our great astonishment, the numerous tourists are usually served in English! What is going on with the national pride of the French?
At the Plage de Napoléon, the mighty river disappears into the Mediterranean and here we cross the finishing line of the ViaRhona. As we continue, we pedal on low-traffic routes along the Camargue coast and on gravel paths to the tourist town of SAINTES MARIES DE LA MER. At the idyllic water crossing „Les 4 Canaux“ in Palavas-les-Flots, my stages 7 and 8 meet. This completes the connection from North Cape to Tarifa, the southernmost point of mainland Europe. Finally we arrive in Montpellier and make some sightseeing in the city and then it is time for the well-deserved beer. Cheers Bädi well done !!!!!