We spent the last couple of days hopping across the German and French borders several times. Next stop was Strasbourg for 2 reasons. Kerrie has seen pictures of this pretty town on the edge of France and more importantly, it is a good place to stay for someone who wants to ride the B500 which goes from Baden Baden to Freudenstadt - we will ride it both ways Greg says - if it is worth it!

Strasbourg is on the border of France and Germany but is in France. This was first stop. Today was our day to explore and have a break from riding for Greg. Just as well because it was wet and dreary looking when we woke up. We stayed in a hotel on the edge of Petite France - the old part of town. The bike is parked on the footpath, under a window at the front of the hotel - we are in France after all!

Strasbourg is the capital city of the Alsace region of France and is also the center for the European Parliament. The old part of town is an island surrounded by canals that lead off the Rhine River. The whole island is World Heritage listed. We stayed just on the edge of this island. The Rhine River is the border between France and Germany. Many of the luxurious Rhine River Cruises stop at Strasbourg for the day to allow tourists to visit the quaint streets, half wooden houses and the magnificent Gothic Cathedral. It was easy to fill in our day here. After a delicious breakfast of fresh baguettes, apricot jam and chantille capuccinno, we put up the borrowed umbrella (we have already sent ours back to Felixstowe because we wouldn't need it) and set off.

We discovered Galleries Layfayette department store and decided to save up our shopping until our daughter Stacey, can shop with us in the Paris branch. We then found one of the canals with clear reflections of the buildings. We also found that a good way to see more of the city would be to take a boat ride through the canal system. The ride took 90 minutes and the English commentary told us all we needed to know - the history of each district we passed through, the gorry details of those held in the torture tower and even the ins and outs of the European Parliament. AND we didn't even have to walk up a hill! Kerrie also discovered that Strasbourg is the site of the first Christkindelsmarik - European Christmas Markets - dating back to 1570; unfortunately many of the Christmas decorations were very fragile and would not have survived a trip in her pannier!

After our canal trip we visited the Cathedral. Construction started in 1040 and it has been added to over the years. It is massive with many exceptional stained glass windows to catch the light and a spire that is 142m high. We then went on a 40 minute Little Train ride around the streets to see the town from the land. Dinner was down by the canal in Pettite France, soaking up the atmosphere as we sipped on a delicious Rosé. A good day all round.

Day 2 was a riding day. Greg has been talking about riding the B500 for quite a while now and the weather was very kind to us with the sun shining brightly. The distance to be riden was not far so we didn't get on the road until about 10:30. We crossed the boarder back in to Germany and headed to Baden Baden where we would start the B500. We discovered that we would not be the only bikes on this road - and it soon became obvious why.

The road from Baden Baden started with a tunnel under the town that was 2.4km long. When you came out, you started to ride up and through a continuous view of dark pine forests - the smell was as good as the view. There were many places to stop and check out the other bikes also spending their day riding through the Black Forest. Our first stop was at Gaststatte where we found many bikes parked and a delicious piece of berry pie to share for lunch. One of the other riders even shared his bag of lollies with us!

Back on the bike, we headed further up the mountain to Mummelsee which is the middle of the B500. This was definitely the Canungra, Outpost Café for this area. There were dozens of bikes parked from various countries. There was even a group riding Harley's who called themselves "The Chopstick Gang" - not sure they were 1%'s but they were having a great time together. We checked out the bikes, the lake, the 'love lock log', the shops and then got back on the bike to continue our ride to Freudenstadt. As I expected, when we got to the end of the B500, Greg said "Do you want to do it again?" Of course I said yes! So, we turned around and rode back the way we had come.

After a great day of riding, it was back to Strasbourg - France - to clean the bike, wash the clothes and get ready for the next day. When we got back to our hotel, we checked our bank balance and discovered, somewhere in the last 2 days, we have lost 2000 pound out of our cash passport account - we have no idea how! So, frantic phone calls were made to block our card and report the unauthorised transactions. We have been assured we will get the money refunded - eventually, after we fill out the required forms and send them off. Lucky we didn't put all our money in the one basket!

If you are a rider, and you get the chance, the B500 is another road too good to miss!

Happy travels to our riding friends, Sandra and Steve (even Steve couldn't get a ticket on the Autobahn) Karametelios who leave for Europe tomorrow. We hope we catch up with you along the way.