D 26 Brangues to Aix-en-Bain

Having taken it easy for a couple of days I pushed on today with a dawn departure from the farm pushing on to a morning coffee beside a pleasure boat marine where the local snack bar had just acquired a new sound system and we're going through a 'sound check' at high volume using an inspired playlist out together by someone with excellent taste. Neither the owner, his barmaid nor I knew the playlist and the game rapidly evolved into who could work it out first. Given that we worked our way through 20 or so classics from Bowie through Nick Cave out to Iggy PoP a most enjoyable interlude. You can see the speaker on the counter as I get out the Savoy Alps map to start thinking through the next leg!

Later that afternoon I got to my turning off point from the Via Rhona at Lac du Bourget where I learnt a boat could take me and the bike over to Aix  thereby avoiding the twin perils of a busy dangerous lakeside road squeezed in below steep valley sides with tunnels or alternatively a grand tour col du chat route which I have seen them negotiate on Telly and looked both hugely challenging but also terrifying being one of those sections when a rider lost control and flies over a barrier to disappear from view!

 So boat trip it was and jolly pleasant too - boat no 5 of the trip so far! The lower shot just about captured the col du chat at the far end!

Booking.com secured me a very reasonable bed at the Hotel thermal next to the spa and round the corner from the casino where I was informed the English were always welcome and Queen Mary had spent much time (?? is that the Queen Mum?).

Anyway excellent apres route in the old town with my first  Savoie wine (important to check out local culture!).