Annual Bike Ride - Day 5, Part 3

 I waited outside the Gare in Lons-le-Saunier with the bikes while Roger and John went in to purchase their tickets.  [I had already bought mine before we left Lyon.]  It took a while as Saturday travel was apparently popular this weekend - little did we know How Popular!

We rode about a mile to our accommodations in a decrepit-looking building.  Roger called the proprietor who gave him the combination for the key-safe so we could enter the unit.  It turned out to be a spacious ultra-modern apartment with all the bells and whistles.  

Our Building - Went through the Tunnel to Access the Unit

Living Area of our Apartment

We secured the bikes by carrying them up to the landing outside our door and locking the bikes to the railing.  As I am now an experienced carrier of bicycles on apartment stairways, I assisted in the process.

Friday night was to be the national Fête de la Musique where every venue imaginable has live music.  The street our building was on was closed to motor vehicles, but we were 75 yards or so from the nearest venue, so the night should not be too noisy.

We headed down the street to scout venues for refreshments and food.  We soon found a likely location and ordered beers.  Because of the expected crowds the menu was very limited.  We had selected a table to the side, so we had cover from the sun and less exposure to potentially really LOUD music.  While refreshing ourselves, we checked our meal choices, ordered, and watched people, including whole families fill up the tables in the street in front of the building.

Roger and John at our Table

Front of the Bar-our Table Area to the Left and Back, Vocalist in Blue Hat Right

The entertainment consisted of a talented female vocalist with accompaniment, who sang very well.  Some of her singing consisted of American R&B songs sung in English!

Poster for the Fête

After eating and having another beer, we headed back to our apartment as there was to be a Eurocup Soccer match on TV, with France and the Netherlands.  [Wound up a 0-0 tie.  Editor's note - soccer needs reform so scoring can occur.  Shoot-outs should not determine important matches.]  John and Roger watched a good bit of the match.  John had kindly purchased some wine and beer, so we had refreshments after we returned to the apartment.

John and Roger Watching the Match

Roger Preparing to Unwind

The next morning, we headed for the Gare.  Our train arrived and it was pretty full and got 'fuller' as we made additional stops.  We stood all the way back to Lyon.  

In Lyon, we unloaded the bikes and headed home.  At least there was no rain.

Another successful biking expedition!