DAY 37 - AOSTE TO ATTIGNAT-ONCIN

Today we had a very pleasant walk in the rain. From Aoste we soon joined another of the branches of the Chemin de St Jacques (Camino). This one takes walkers from Switzerland and beyond to Le Puy-en-Velay, and from there on towards Spain.

The scallop symbol signifies another path taking walkers to Santiago de Compostela 

After 5 or 6 kilometres we left the Camino and navigated through back streets to the town of Le Pont-de-Beauvoisin. There we found a bar for our morning stop.

In a bar in Le Pont-de-Beauvoisin - drying off, having a coffee and planning the way forward

We found a succession of quiet rural roads to take us to our next stop, the small town of La Bridoire. As it was still raining (it rained all day), we had our lunch there in a bus shelter.

On the road approaching La Bridoire

At La Bridoire we intended to join the GR9, another of France's long-distance walking paths, to take us up to the Chartreuse. We had no trouble finding it. 

Path going up - looks like a GR

Walking this section of the GR9 was a wonderful experience. We saw a waterfall. We crossed over a rickety bridge.

The GR9/Assisi Way took us over a small bridge

We passed a sign commemorating resistance activity in WWII. 

A sign marks the spot where the Germans raided a resistance arms depot in 1944

And we climbed through the forest on a variety of surfaces.

Still on the GR9. Still going up.

A couple of kilometres later. Still on the GR9.

It was still raining as we arrived in Attignat-Oncin. It has been a wet day, but a lot of fun.

A wet introduction to the Chartreuse - approaching Attignat-Oncin

To top off the day, and to celebrate arriving in the mountainous department of Savoie, we had a Savoie fondue for dinner.

Nice way to celebrate arriving in the mountains 

Day:  37
Distance: 24.0km
Walking time:  5hrs 21mins
Elevation gain:  411 metres
Cumulative distance:  970.09 km