Day 1: de Paradis a l'enfer

The day began so well.  I headed south from Lyon into the foot hills of the Alps, rolling over glacial remains and seeing wondrous sights.  There was beauty in every direction;  check out the view from some farmer's house and the replica Statue of Libery gracing the town square of Roybon.  Hit my first real climbing there; 9 percent for about three miles.  I rode also through le Cote de St. Andre, birthplace of Hector Berlioz, sat under his statue and ate a chocolate croissant.  

But then it really began to heat up and I was starting to wear out.  What's more, there were no hotels of any kind to find; not a B and B, nothing.  I had planned to stay in Pont en Royons, but it was hardly even a town.  I had to ride two hours I didn't plan on into Romans sur Isere, and into the teeth of a 95 degree mistral (think of the stiff east wind Portland can get in the summer).  By the time I got there I was totally spent; six hours total in the saddle on a very hot day.  I crawled into the first cheapo hotel I could find, which luckily wasn't terrible.  Slept and drank for ten or so hours.