The rain promised fro Day 16 had started early evening and by the next morning was heavy and persistent. Even our super, all weather tent was taking the strain. At least the slugs had been washed out. Dave heroically donned full waterproofs and went out to cook the breakfast. The rain lashed down for another 3 hours but we took advantage of a short break around 11am to pack up and move on to Grenoble. It was a miserable journey in the rain but only took an hour.

We had booked a hotel room near the station so that Helen could easily catch a train to Arles the next morning, where she was spending a few days while Dave met up with Jason and Spider for some more riding. It was embarrassing turning up at the hotel dripping wet with carrier bags of damp, smelly gear. The Ibis Styles had good facilities, including on site underground parking which they let us have for free, good WIFI and breakfast included for 75 euros. The shower was the best we have encountered all holiday. Also useful is the location of Carrefour Express next door.

Of just as much interest as the parking was the proliferation of Indian restaurants and ethnic supermarkets, all closed when we arrived. We smartened ourselves up and went into town on foot wearing our bike boots as they were our only dry shoes. The old town is what you would expect of an old French cityand, on a clearer day, the mountain views extend in every direction. The atmosphere was severely dampened by the weather though, as it had been in Turin. We found some vegan food a a pretty terrible falafel shop and fortified ourselves with a drink in a cosy bar.

That evening, we headed for Shiva Indian restaurant only to be told that they were full. The Bombay told us the same thing but took pity on us and found us a table with low level cushion type seating-just iike camping-which we could have for an hour and a half. The place was thriving and the staff were super friendly. The food was fairly good but not spectacular.