Morestel to Chanaz

Today we have been resting up in the canal side village of Chanaz, although we hiked uphill this morning to the Croix de Pierre Noir where there was a beautiful view over the village with the mountains in the background.

 Last night there was a fête and night markets so there were many people around eating, drinking and listening to a local band.

 The weather has been great and during the day the canal is full of boats of all shapes and sizes. The restaurants never seem to be empty and are in excellent locations next to the water.

Before setting off from Morestel yesterday we had a lovely breakfast with the Franciscan sisters. They laid on fourteen different homemade jams for us and local speciality bread and cheeses. The coffee was the best we have had and we have really enjoyed our stay and their hospitality.

 Our cycle from Morestel we fairly easy, as most of it was on the Via Rhôna cycle path. The Via Rhôna is a perfect cycle path and there were plenty of cyclists using it. 

At this time of year the side verges are full of flowers and wild oregano is in bloom. 

We arrived early in the afternoon and checked in at Le Doux Nid, a chambre d'hôte on the canal front, and then explored the village. It is very quaint and very hilly. The main attractions, apart from the natural ones, are the working mill with a water wheel and a Gallo Roman museum. The mill is well worth a trip as there is a man making walnut oil all day. he gives a commentary in French whilst he grinds the shells, heats the mash and presses the mash into oil. It would not pass modern health and safety requirements and he frequently puts his hands in the ground nuts while the 500kg stone is turning round! If we were not on our bikes we could also have purchased oil, jams and other products of the mill. The Gallo Roman museum is small, but worth a visit. It contains pottery and coins that were discovered in the village. Both the mill and the museum are free to enter.