Roche de Solutre & Paray le Monial France

Travelled: 171km
Stay : Aire Paray le Monial

Another wet and cold start to the day. It has been unexceptional weather for this time in the year. We went to pay Mark's visa fee at the Tax Office in Montluel and then Mark went to the dentist to get the imprint for his new tooth. We then set out to get closer to where we purchased the motorhome as we have to be there by 9am tomorrow to fit the flywire door. We decided not to take the autoroute, so we ended driving through  some lovely countryside and villages. We thought that we should stretch our legs and headed for the the Roche de Solutre, a rock surging from the vineyards below. An energetic walk with some great views. It is a walk President Mitterrand did every year for some time. 

Exercise done, we continued are travels to an Aire in Paray le Monial, without knowing what a delight was in store for us. The first thing that greeted us was the Sacred Heart Basilica. You can never judge the interior of a church by the exterior. Every time you walk into a 'church' you are always taken by surprise. So, this Basilica looks like it will be dark inside, but of course it was the opposite.  As we then walk in the medieval village, we realize that this is a very religious town with many chapels and sites to visit and some interesting architecture. 

As we walk back along the river and through the park, we see a canal on the other side with boats moored there. We meet some fellow Australians that own a canal boat and have been coming back yearly for the past 5 years.