Lons Le Saunier (Jura) - Matafelon (Ain)

Quite a big climbing day at 1134m of ascent and ended up a hard day due to getting caught in heavy prolonged rain at the same time as a stick tried to chew up Caroline’s front mudguard. Just about managed to sort that without the right tools.

But the scenery really changed today. The hills of the Jura were beautiful and then entering Ain, the first full climb with hairpins and beautiful views.

With the unusual rain in France, the landscape is incredibly lush; the birds and birdsong amazing and there are loads of insects. Descending fast means a battering from various flying things and one settled into my groin and stung me - I didn’t catch what variety of stinging insect but it was blooming painful!Read more