We left our hero having arrived in Strasbourg and checked in. Once cleaned up Glen and I went out to see the town at night, guided by the advice on a hostelry by the rather charming lady on reception. On our way to her suggested venue we passed this motorcyclist. Is this not the best helmet/leathers combo you have ever seen (or do aliens travel by inter-galactic motorbike)?
Before we left we spent the morning being tourists in Petit Frane. It, and the splendid gothic cathedral are drop-dead gorgeous. Here are a just a few pics with the balance in the Smugmug album.
Our venue for food and drink had a very encouraging name....
.... and great example of the local delicacy, the Tarte Flambé, not Joan of Arc, but a kind of thin crust pizza.
I, disgracefully, had a couple of Guinness rather than a local brew before we went into Petite France (the old part of the city) for a nightcap. A very lovely Armanac later and I was in bed.
The following morning dawned sunny, allowing me to model my "King of the Mountains" Tour de France shirt that I had intended to don at the top of the Gotthard Pass but was twarted by artic conditions. Very fetching in my opinion!
The city also has the most number of cake shops per square mile I have ever seen
Not wanting to see this wasted we had coffee and a Florentine
Off we go! This part of France is populated by perfect villages. The are perfect because their show-house properties appear not to be used. The bars (they are not sullied by shops) are not open. Presumably this is because the statutory maximum working week of 2 hours (or some such number) only allows time for the polishing of the exterior of these premises but not their opening. The are perfectly clean and all compete in the Village Fleurie completion for which they are (as far as we can tell) awarded between one and four flowers (we saw no five flower villages which, presumably, only exist in heaven).
A one-flower village (and these are rare compared to the 2/3/4 flower ones) is better than anything I have seen in England. The Mairie's (or town halls) are also gorgeous as shown by the green one below. The countryside is again flat and we cruised through the deserted and dry villages through the day.
Having first stopped at the local Carrefour for essential supplies (in my case a small bottle of J&B) we pulled into the campsite we were aiming for in Lauterbourg to be told it was full. After considerable wailing and nashing of teeth (all of it in mime since the stony faced lady in charge of the Stalag didn't speak any recognisable dialect (cockney, brummy, Scouse etc)) we were offered (also in mime with the aid of a map of the site) an exclusive spot by the toilet block. We accepted with alacratity.
Our naighbour, Boris, turned out to be very neighbourly and, after we had set up and eaten, allowed us unfettered access to his three liter box of Riojo. This, combined with the J&B let to a good sleep in my little bi I (much less palatial than Boris's spot. Many thanks Boris for your hospitality.
The following morning we were away early expecting a 100km ride to Worms (yes, really). It turned out to be over 120km. We very soon passed into Germany.
Here the route broadly follows the dyke which protects the surrounding countryside from any Rhine flooding. It is about 15 feet high with a good Tarmac road, about 10 feet wide on a ledge half way up. This road is completely traffic free and has very many cyclists. It runs through forests or has trees on the river side and cornfields on the other.
Germany, and it's towns and villages, was open (unlike France and Switzerland. The result is they appear used (slightly scruffy) and without the estate agent photo appearance of France. Stopped at one coffee shop and two restaurant/bars during the long ride
Only thing if note was, sadly, the technical museum which had, among many aircraft, a jumbo jet on display outside.
We stopped about 30km outside Worms to check directions and were adopted by Horst, another cyclist, who determined to guide us to our hotel. Which he did. Bought him a beer for his kindness.
Showered and went into Worms which has a vaguely Romanesque cathedral and little else. The cathedral did have an interesting set if window sill sculptures showing, in one case, lions threatening a sheep/goat. On the other windowsill they appear to have eaten it! Had a nice Chinese meal and retired to write this.
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