Another hot day in the saddlefrom Annecy northwards

Another 200 odd miles today in the sweltering heat of Central France as we headed off from Annecy to Luxeuil Les Bains. 
Sat nav driving me bonkers once again from the moment we left,   it wanted to go the opposite route from the first roundabout and it was 54 miles before it eventually decided that it would tell me where to go.
Five of us,  Tom, Iain and the two Douggies took the relatively scenic route and headed up into the hills and forests making for the Route du Lac.

   Lovely,  roads were not as hairy as the Italian Dolomites , with more sweeping bends, and long stretches through rural countryside to pop along.
Very hot and once again the fan was kicking in to cool the engine and we were having to stop to give the bikes a rest and take on fluids.

 Old Dougz had just had a brew up and was doing the dishes before leaving.

 

Despite the intense heat there was a surprising amount of moisture amongst the foliage , (noted whilst taking a leak),

 

On this route,  in order to make the most use of the water in the river a dam was built and a new lake formed, really unusual colour of water, so different from Lake Annecy.

 

So onwards and upwards, short stretch on the Peage (toll road) , a few miles on newly resurfaced roads which were a bit dodgy with loose gravel.   Then the "troops,  newly promoted (field promotion) Sgt Iain @nimble fingers - Buchanan, let me take the lead, obviously having more faith in my Sat Nav than me, until I took a wrong tuning - looks as though we need to slow down so that the sat nav can keep pace with us, and we eventually arrived kind f hot at the Hotel Mercure, Luxeuil Les Bains.

First stop was the bar for a couple of glasses of that famous lager which refreshes the parts that other lagers cannot reach,  but at 2.70 Euros for a half pint we will be taking the pledge.

Remainder of the group arrived a short time later having taken a slightly different route, and bikes were parked up.

Now,  indeed, despite the slagging that the "Steed of Steel" has had from various members of the Group - and bearing in mind that this is an IPA trip (Service through friendship) I can prove that the bike is well worth its weight in gold having found yet another use for it :

Yes, a clothes horse, appropriate for the name,  not sure that the locals and management really appreciate my socks and underwear being on display at the side of the road.

Presently sampling a nice  red Puy Laroque , 2009 Graves.

So till tomorrow