Riom, Beaumont-Pied-de-Boeuf, Morlaix, Roscoff

When planning our trip to France, I had deliberately chosen a different route back to Roscoff rather than returning the way we had come. I had read that the A75 is the most scenic motorway in France so wanted to experience that. I also wanted to see the Millau viaduct, the world's highest multi-span bridge over the Tarn Valley. And we did see it and we crossed it but (after our  near-death experience on Monday) we did not have the heart to linger below it at the interpretive centre. And the A75 is indeed scenic!

The A 75 is also known as La Meridienne. It cuts through the Massif Central and it is entirely free (a very unusual thing in France) from Beziers to Clermont Ferrand. Because it is at an altitude of in excess of 800m there are some wonderful views.

Coming towards the Millau viaduct

On the Millau Viaduct.

After a reasonably relaxed journey in lovely countryside we reached Riom where I had booked into B&B Hotel Clermont Ferrand Nord. This was another new experience for us as the hotel reception is manned for only a few hours a day. At other times, and including when we arrived, entrance into the hotel involves a combination of key pads and touch screens. First I had to press the buzzer where I was connected via intercom to a person who acknowledged my reason to be there by giving me a code that I had to put into the touch screen which then printed out the number of our room and the code to be used via the keypad to open the main door and also open the bedroom door. It worked perfectly!

As is very common nowadays, budget hotels are usually on the outskirts of big towns and cities and eateries spring up around them. Often these are establishments that I would need to be in dire need to enter but this time we were very fortunate as just a stroll away was Le Zinc (I think) and we had a really nice meal there.

The following morning we set off early for Beaumont-Pied-de-Boeuf where I had booked a well-thought of Auberge with 6 bedrooms and a good restaurant - Auberge Relais du Cheval Blanc. The Madame welcomed us in a very friendly manner and Jim finally found a parking place on quite a slope. He is now (understandably) quite paranoid about slopes so made sure the handbrake was fully up and found some stones to put in front of the wheels! Our room was very nice.

There was a paved area outside with a picnic table so I repaired to that to read my book. Jim went exploring and found the church so interesting that he persuaded me to have a look. It's a really old church

A woman was in the Church hanging tapestries from some tapestry group in the south of France. They were very nice too.

While we were there the bell in the bell tower struck the hour , twice like in Calvisson. I took advantage of the woman's presence to ask her why. Her explanation was much more satisfying that the one I had got in Calvisson. The clocks strike once to remind people to adopt a position of prayer and the second time to suggest resumimg work!








We had a lovely meal in the restaurant and it turns out the chef is quite well known.

Earlier in the day we had stopped in a town called Chateau du Loir (I think) where we had a delicious lunch - roast vegetables couscous topped with a piece of cod.

Next morning early breakfast and on to Morlaix where we left the hired car and got a taxi to Roscoff where we were 4 and a half hours early for the ferry. Jim takes punctuality to the extreme!