Monday, August 13, 2012

Eberbach to Strasbourg and Strasbourg









Day 49 – Eberbach to Karlsruhe, 117kms

Today’s ride was mainly flat along the Neckar River. We picked up the River not far from the campsite and stayed with it for most of the morning. It is a much prettier ride than the Rhine and you are close by the river most of the time. There was no real bike route to follow so we stuck to the road most of the time. The drivers were very good and there was often a bike path beside the road. The villages along the way were very pretty with lots of old houses and churches and very clean. We rode through the outskirts of Heidelberg and found out later that Linda and Steve had gone there for their rest days. The really enjoyed their stay.
We spoke to a couple of German bike tourists along the way and they agreed it was a very pretty route to cycle.
We were talking to another local couple just making sure we were on the right track, we were talking about what was happening in the local area and said goodbye and the next thing we hear this noise and the lady has fallen off her bike. She was at a loss as to why she fell off but we helped back on her feet while her husband stood back and had a bit of a chuckle, she patted her bottom and said something in German which we assumed must have been did not hurt myself, plenty of padding. We felt awful and hoped we had not distracted her, she rode off after we packed all her shopping back into her basket.
One guy Chris spoke to was interested to hear we were from Australia and not the USA, but was concerned that people disappeared down holes in Australia! There are some funny ideas of Australia over here, last year we were amazed to hear how there were snakes everywhere which stopped a lot of people coming for a holiday. Honestly!
We dined in at the campground and managed to see a small amount of the Olympics, were pleased to see the Jarred Talent won silver in the walk.
Early night after a long day in the saddle.

Day 50 –Karlsruhe to Strasbourg, 88kms
After a good sleep we set out for Strasbourg, we knew it would be a long day but thought it would be a pretty flat ride.
We stuck mainly to the roads for the first part of the day. Had a chat to one local at a bakery on our first stop who had spent some time in South Africa in the French speaking area and said that was a good spot for cycle touring, we had never thought of going there.
Again, lots of pretty villages and other bike riders out today, it was in the late 20’s so pleasant for riding.
Not much to report today as the country is still very rural, some farmers were working away planting new strawberries in large quantities, others were still hay baling. There are a lot of apple trees in Germany along the road side all well covered with apples. There are some orchards but a huge number of trees not necessarily in an orchard.
We were checking the map at one stage and this fellow who looked to have about 20years on us asked if we thought this was the way to Switzerland. We said no you are going the wrong way, should be heading south not north. He said the area looked familiar, thinks he rode over yesterday, must have taken the wrong turn our of the ‘van park! He did have a map but said he was too lazy to use it, perhaps he should be more keen to use it. He had been touring around Germany but was heading back to Switzerland where he lived, not sure when he was hoping to be home!
We crossed back in France near Strasbourg in the early afternoon after following the Rhine River for 30 or 40 k. The camp ground was through the city and out the other side.
Clem and Lesley have rejoined us and Linda and Steve are now back in riding mode after their rest days.
Dinner was at the camp restaurant, not the best meal we have had but we thought we would try their smoked pizzas. You never know until you try it, maybe not our favorite pizza!
Day 51  Strasbourg – 10k

We all rode into town early to get some breakfast and spend the day sight seeing.
I think we all agreed that strasbourg is a pretty city. Some of us enjoyed a boat tour of the city on the River L’ill. We went through a lock which was good fun, we had previously watched other boats going through but this time it was us. Nothing too startling but good fun all the same.









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