Vélonecy

Annecy has a bike rental service called Vélonecy.
(The name comes from "vélo" + "Annecy", but you've probably figured that out already,
because you're clever like that!) 

I had been wanting to try it out ever since we arrived in town.   

Today was the day!   

So off I went to the train station where the bike rental office is located, 

armed with several pieces of mail to prove that I am a local resident. 

(The rental rates are very reasonable if you live or study in Annecy, 

or if you have a train ticket to or from the Gare d'Annecy.)

Faux ami alert!  "Location" means "rental" in French.

Aren't they cute?  I love the colour.  And the baskets.

Once the correct photocopies were provided,
the necessary forms were filled out,
& the cheque was written,
I was on my merry way.  

I headed out of the train station, through the old town, 

& straight to the bike path that runs along the lake.  

It's divided into two sections, one for walkers & one for those of us à vélo.  

Just like the Seawall in Vancouver!

"Shared space"... isn't that nice?

I set out, feeling a bit wobbly.  It had been ages since I'd been on a two-wheeler.  

But it really is true that you never forget how to ride a bike, isn't it?  

I was zipping along like Lance Armstrong (or his much slower distant cousin) in no time.

My bike & I stopped for a breather and admired the view of the lake & the mountains.

 

We spent a few minutes watching these guys fishing:

Anything biting today, fellas?

We rode along again for a while until we reached the beach at Sévrier, 

a little town just down the lake from Annecy.  

FQ & I had been here once, back in July & it was madness.  So crowded.  

Today, however, I didn't have to fight anybody off to get a prime seat under this chestnut tree.

My view looked something like this.  Pas mal, non?

I sat a spell, read some of the paper, wrote a letter to a faraway friend & daydreamed.  

It was lovely.

Then I went hunting for a wish rock & found this perfect specimen:

I wished that bike helmets weren't so dorky-looking.

Looks like it didn't work.

Oh well.  It was a great afternoon out anyway!