A long day! Corey’s longest ride ever!!
Most of the day was spent on tiny roads (effectively cycle paths you can drive on!)…which form an extraordinary network across Germany.
….as we made our way to the Black Forest…
….and a short stiff climb up to around 950m…
….before a lovely descent back into the Rhine basin.
We had cycled 66kms before breakfast…..so had broken the back of the ride by 10.30am. Good job though…for the temperature then raced away on us. 34km later…and drinks were urgently needed…as the temperature past the ‘body temperature’ break point…after which you get no relief at all from the breeze!
The last 35kms were punishing.
We espied a small swimming spot…so we were into the water in a flash!!
And then more hydration was needed…before we crossed the Rhine into France (…actually…beers are a lot cheaper in Germany!!).
The river has grown up a bit….since we last saw it in its relative infancy!!
And so to France! At least language will be easier. We have both been really (English-speaker-arrogance!) surprised how many folk we came across..in Germany in particular…who spoke no English whatsoever! In Austria…and Switzerland as well! Not unexpected in Italy etc….but my prior experience is that these three countries generally educate their kids well in English. Has something changed?
We were well tired after our long day…so had no plan to venture far….and so stopped at the first bar available! A good local.
Now…generally speaking…French beers are fairly awful…but here they were serving Meteor Pils…and it was very good!! Brewed just down the road…a French road too!!
Corey was accosted by one of the locals….:
“You look just like Julien Dore!” (….a popular French singer)
Corey was chuffed!
He usually gets compared to Michael Hutchence!
We finished the day with a gorgeous Indian!! If its hot….eat hot!!
