Time to recover

The Mechanic is on strike!  Cycling was not to be considered, so a gentle walk appeared on the agenda - although some may argue that 'gentle', 'walk' and 'Hume' are words not often found in the same sentence. We drove the 3 miles to Bourg d'Oisans and left the car (the only walking route being along the main road, which has a bike lane but no pavement. We had decided on flat walking (or to be more precise I was instructed accordingly), so we set off along the river on a good track, which soon veered off into some trees, which gave welcome shade although the path was actually quite boggy in places due to marsh land around it. We were soon climbing up to a waterfall, which fortunately was worth the effort, then continued along the path, which was now part of GR 54 (I think - may have got the number wrong). Thîs was wooded and eventually started to run along and above a fast flowing river, with incredible noise as it raced over the rocks.  We had lunch sitting on rocks right at the water's edge and couldn't really hear each other above the noise.

Eventually we popped out on a road about 5k from here and had no option but to walk down it. Not busy but very exposed to the sun and extremely hot. We staggered in to the B&B for cold drinks on the terrace, then had to get back on the bikes to ride into town and collect the car. By mistake I had left a vat of suncream in the back and it is now a vat of liquid. We tackled the local supermarket for some lunch supplies and were amazed at the anarchy that reigns (we have observed this in other places, but assumed it was just a one-off occurrence). The self service area is permanently closed off (French unions protecting jobs), the basket only checkpoint is not understood by the tourists and is regarded with disdain by the French, weighing and pricing the fruit and veg is hampered by the fact that items have no label on them e.g. 4 types of apple available but no indication of what type they are - which you need to know in order to enter them on the machine. I always feel as if I have been in a wrestling match by the time I escape - usually minus the one item I really needed. Now relaxing while the outdoor pizza over is being fired up for dinner.