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The Rhine has swung right/west into France.
We put in a big day. Starting at 0810hrs, we pedalled hard and made it to Strasbourg by late afternoon. 110 miles.
I had hoped that we might have got to Basel by Monday for the England qualifier. But it was a bridge too far. Would've finished us off. She wasn't keen either.
The route was very scenic. There was not a breath of wind in the morning. And a light headwind on the afternoon.
For much of the day we tracked along the banks of the Rhine. At other times the route veered away from the river, for maybe 20km stretches, where we passed through parklands woodland and around the sides of numerous lakes.
Along the way we overtook dozens and dozens of cyclist. Some laden, some not. We keep up 16mph on the flat. Only three cyclists passed us all day. They usually move over when hearing my klaxon. Not all do so. But when Jackie chips in with her high pitched sqeaker-klaxon (that I found in a toy shop back home for £1.99) they soon get the message. Many of the cycles we catch and speed past are battery assisted. (What's that all about!). I reckon about 20% of the cycles on the Rhine had a tell tale battery box and a motor box under the bottom bracket.
It was hot and sunny. The last 20 miles were difficult. When we rolled into Strasbourg we were running on empty (being Sunday, nothing was open to buy chocolate etc). So we nibbled on trail mix all day. Every time our water ran out, we'd refill our bottles by asking of folk sat in their gardens.
My knee was playing up. Both of us had neck pain and shoulder spasms. Pins and needles plagued the hands. Jackies's bruises had stiffened up some of her joints. Despite drinking all day, we were also showing signs of dehydration. We were both 'hanging' when we got to the end and fell into a bar, where we ordered two 'big beers', Ficsher (€6). Then two more.
At one point, I was complaining about one of my insect bites. Jackie said she has some cream that I could put on it. I asked it the cream was for insect bites. She said that it wasn't but that there might be a placebo effect. This from a nurse!
At another point, with 10km to go to Strasbourg, she said she wanted to stop. "You go on" she said, "leave me here!"
At the bar:
I got on Trivago and found a city centre 4* hotel (Hotel Maison Rouge) was touting a very cheap deal. So, even tho we use the likes of IBIS Budget, we took it. It was only 100m from where we were drinking. Walking into the golden and chandeliered entrance, we were met by the kind greeting if "Get those bikes outta here" (Or the French equiv.)
We were directed around the back and had to come up the service stairs.
The classy room was soon adorned with all the clothing that we hadn't managed to dry in BASF-staad.
We had a meal in front of the cathedral (impressive- have a google images look). Then the music started up and we watch a son illuminaire show on the cathedral.
We need to rest up for a few hours in the morning to aid some physical recovery, and doing the tourist bit, before pushing on, maybe around lunchtime.
In the meantime, she wants to look out for a pet shop (harness for Merlin) and a bike shop (to get some better cycling gloves than she got at Emersons Green Intersport). I'm ok for shopping. Nothing required.
So far, 540 miles in 6 days. Not bad for a pair of fifty something's I guess. No sign yet of where this river comes from...
- comments
Mr Jangut son-et-lumiere please
Mr Jangut I see that the source of the Rhine is at 2344 metres. I hope you included altitude training in your preparations! (Ben Nevis is 1344metres high)
Waynetta Don't forget about my homemade isotonic drink recipe .