The erratic summer, which had been so cold and wet when we were in Burgundy, had now turned into a furnace.
After a lazy day under the trees in Beaurepaire, we started early and scuttled off across the baking fields, rejoining the GR65 at Poussieu, then descended into a sea of apple orchards as we approached Clonas-sur-Varèze.
Because of the tremendous heat, we stayed there an extra day, as the camping ground had a swimming pool and a restaurant on the premises. Then we crossed the Rhône for the first and last time, and as we did so the weather changed again.
We were suddenly enveloped in mist and rain as we climbed the range of le Pilat and dropped down the other side. The rain and cold persisted for several days and we shivered in our sleeping bags at St-Julien-Molin-Molette and at
Both these little villages were deep in the mountains between the Rhône and the Loire. However, we managed to have an excellent meal each night and a good French breakfast every morning, so we felt able to cope with these little annoyances.
Day 18: Beaurepaire to Clonas-sur-Varèze
Rest day: Clonas-sur-Varèze
Day 19: Clonas-sur-Varèze to St-Julien-Molin-Molette
Day 20: St-Julien-Molin-Molette to St-Sauveur-en-Rue