Le Malzieu-Ville to Beaulieu

Travelled: 194km

Stay : Free Aire Beaulieu and services N45°07.554' E3°56.833' /45.12594, 3.94664 

Big day driving today and there wasn't one straight stretch! Typical french country road and then we tested out some of camy's (GPS) suggestions and had to double back, as they turned out to be farmers goat tracks! So it was a long day. But we started the day exploring Malzieu-Ville, a beautiful town, rich in  medieval history with a great patisserie/ boulangerie, where we bought breakfast and a baguette and berry tart for lunch (Life is good!) The buildings where constructed from a local granite, different to what we have seen do far, which has been predominately sand stone. Our next destination is the viaduct of Garabit, a railroad bridge constructed by Gustave Eiffel in 1884. It is one of the 3 remarkable bridges we have visited on Southern France. We then took the scenic route through the Valllee de la Haute Truyere and enjoyed the picturesque scenery and walked to a the ruins of Chateau d'Alleuze.  As we need to be in Montluel (near Lyon) on Tuesday for a dental appointment for Mark, as his tooth has broken, we head towards Le Puy En Valey. The road takes us through valleys of patch work farm lands and forests. We are later told that the lowest altitude in the region is 700m and that it snowed here 2 days ago. No wonder its so cold and its meant to be summer in 2 weeks time!Apparently the region has the most diverse weather from -25 to +35! Anyway by the time we reach Le Puy, we are tired and unfortunately are not motivated to visit the unique lava pinnacles which on top they have built, a cathedral, a statue of the Virgin and a chapel. This also the region where the Loire River starts. It is 1000km and is the longest french river, which finishes its journey in Nantes. So we have ended up in Beaulieu, a VERY small village, but interesting enough as the Aire is next to an indoor Shooting range that is the only one of its kind in France and boasts Olympic competitors.