Parting is such sweet sorrow

Amy and I had most of the day today. She has no school on Wednesdays and I didn’t need to leave for Lyon until 3-3:30. I thought we had a plan to get breakfast and then checkout. Amy thought the opposite.

Instead of being a smart person and leaving the car in the free garage, I got the car out so we could load our bags and then we had to find another place to park. We ended up back at Adelaide for breakfast. Their omelettes and ginger shots are sooo good. I tried a beet latte and I quite enjoyed that as well.

The plan then was to go to Polignac castle but it closed at noon and didn’t reopen until 1:30. It was now 11:30, and Amy said there was nothing to do there until 1:30.

Plan B! We drove about twenty minutes out of town to a lake in an old volcanic crater. The drive for us right back in the mountains. Along the way, we encountered the lentil king! That is one of their major exports.

We parked at Lake Bouchet and it was about a three kilometer walk around the perimeter.

It felt kind of like Minnesota and being the yogi that I am I found a third eye on the branches reflection in the water. Now the weather is nice and I don’t want to leave!

We still had some time before I needed to get on the road, so we drove to a sweet little town where Amy knew of a book cafe. We browsed the books and I bought one a small one about breads. We had a juice beverage, and then it was time for me to get in the highway. I dropped Amy at her residence and we had a long hug.

The traffic wasn’t too heavy until I got to St Etienne. I was in pre rush hour at times and hit some stop and go. By now, I really just want to get this car returned without any debts or scratches. It’s a lot of pressure to be given a brand new car. When I was in Greece, I got kinda of a beater car, so I didn’t worry as much.

I was lucky there was a gas station at my last exit before the road to the airport. However, it took me almost ten minutes to start the pump. It was similar to the problem we had in Aix, but this time

I was able to get my Amex to work when me

Debit Card would not. Go figure.

I got the car to National and the receiver did not find any issues. It was very dirty, but as she said, we have a machine for that. The shuttle to the airport came quickly and after a short walk,

I was at the Moxy hotel. It’s in the airport,

So no shuttle in the morning!!

There was just one problem. When I extended my stay, I booked the Moxy for the night before and they were full up tonight. I’m exhausted and all I want is to stow my stuff, have a drink a get some dinner, and go to bed. The reception gentleman called a few places—also full. I was deflated and very angry with myself.

I was fortunate to find the Ibis a quarter of a mile away had a room. They said they had a shuttle bus, I there were no shuttles running that I could see. On their website, it said during lunch time you could take a 47 bus. There was a 47 bus sitting at the curb.

I worked up my courage to go over and ask the driver if he stopped at the Ibis. Yes he does. Then I had to ask how much. I Reid to use my debit card; he said cash only. I had a 10 euro left so that was possible. Then I asked when he would leave. One minute. He was a man of few words.

We finally took off just him and me. He was whipping that bus around and I started to worry that I was going to have to ride most of the route before he swung back to the Ibis. I was glad to be wrong about that. I thanked him profusely and took off across the street.

I got let in the side door and the woman at Reception was helpful. Like the driver, she only spoke French. I don’t know if it was her accent or that she spoke slowly, but no understood almost everything she said. I got the shuttle confirmed for 5:30 am. My room looked like a youth hostel but it was very clean even if the hallways and elevator were not.

The Ibis had sort of a cafeteria, but the Comfort in next store had a real restaurant. I was seated and served quickly after I told them I was from the Ibis. There was a vegetarian option and a tall beer.

After a shower, it was an early night and I didn’t expect to sleep well because I rarely do the night before an early flight.