Mulhouse (Day 3)

 

Anna set off just before twelve to continue her journey to Portugal. This campsite is exceptional when it comes to facilities for cyclists, and as it was her first of her trip we think she'll be in for a surprise as she continues on her way. Also, most of the campsites will close on September 30th. Angela is desperately trying to receive a response from the campsite at Cherbourg. We have three trains to catch tomorrow, the last arrives at Cherbourg at nine-twenty-one in the evening, so we need to be sure we can access the site, after a cycle of about an hour. Before we waved Anna off, John gave her a tip. Stock up on toilet paper before you leave. Most French campsites don't provide it, it's down to you. Fill your boots, pockets and panniers. Angela always does. Around midday, we packed our lunch and cycled out of the town for around an hour in the direction of Basel looking for fungi along the way. John was very keen to find some chicken of the woods to eat in his omelette tomorrow morning. Two large barges passed by us on the canal. Now we have slowed down, we feel tired, but still hungry, eating too much. A coffee stop in the town before shopping for tomorrow's travelling, to ensure we have enough food, then back to our little chalet for one last night. Tomorrow, we will be back in our tent. Let's hope the rain stays away. We feel a little sad to be coming home, but now the weather is changing we know we've had the best of it, so it's probably a good thing.

Mulhouse (Day 2)

We were unable to book trains for us and our bikes until Tuesday, so decided to treat ourselves and splash out on a little cabin for three nights. No more cold, wet nights in our little tent. Last night we rested well, not waking until just before nine. Luxury. Today we would be 'tourists', cycling into the old town to take in the medieval architecture. Coffee, and general mooching about suited us well. Then back to our humble abode to book the car ferry home. Unfortunately, the crossing on Wednesday is overnight, arriving in Poole at seven in the morning. As the rain poured down early this evening Angela spoke to a young girl who was on day two of her cycling trip. Her destination is Portugal in around fifty days. Taking the train at times. Yes, we're a mad bunch of us, cycle tourists. Bring on the next trip we say. We are just over half way now to Budapest. What do we think, perhaps next year.

Mulhouse (Day 1)

DeIt rained in the night, and we had no way of drying our tent this morning, so packed it away we and set off in the rain to Basal. At five to midday we crossed the frontier into Switzerland. We'd made it. In just over three weeks we cycled around seven hundred and fifty miles, what with the detours to campsites etc. We found Basal a little underwhelming. Chaotic and dirty and the food we bought in the supermarket was very expensive. Angela of course couldn't resist a toblerone! Our trip was completed. We'd achieved our objective. Now where was the train station. We needed to return to Mulhouse. Cycle back? You must be joking!

Kembs

 

Beautiful sunrises, follow cold nights, and bright sunshine and clear blue then fill the day. It was all downhill now to Mulhouse. Our cycle along the canal was pleasant. We stopped to look at a bell that was erected to signify the local extinction of the curlew. A few barges sailed by, as always their owners waved us on our way. Today we would cycle through Mulhouse, stopping briefly on the way through alongside the canal to eat lunch. Our destination was a campsite at Kembs. Just ten miles from Basel, our overall destination. We'd not bothered to stock up on food as there was an Aldi supermarket close by. It was closed for five months. Why? Oh dear we had to source an evening meal. Angela went out to search and returned with two chicken burgers and chips from a nearby restaurant. The food was fantastic. The French don't stint on quality. Just after we arrived at the campsite, Anneka cycled in, on her return ride across the border to Basel, she thought we'd probably be here. It was nice to see her again, and perhaps one day we'll visit her at her home in Rouen.

Montreux - Chateau

Last night was so cold. Anneka, the French lady we'd spent camping alongside the last two nights was going to cycle around sixty miles to stay with her friend in an apartment in Mulhouse. After the very strong headwind of yesterday we knew Mulhouse would not be attainable for us, forty miles would do for us. Aware that there would be no campsite until Mulhouse we'd probably be wild camping. But Angela wasn't too happy about that option, so John sourced a chambre d'hote in Montreux-Chateau at a cost of forty-five euros. Sorted! Or were we? After no reply about our booking enquiry he decided we should find the house in the small town. We were informed that the chambre d'hote was only available May, June and part of July. Could we perhaps pay you ten euros to camp in your garden? No. After John explained he was an older man with grey hair, as she could see, to cycle to Mulhouse was just too far. She relented. We could set up our tent and camp for free. And would we like a beer? Of course Angela would. Her husband came over to chat and it turned out they were cyclists, having cycled the euro velo 6 from their home to Nantes. Would we like to come in for some food? Not wanting to impose, we politely declined, sourcing a pizza take-away in the town. Up early, we watched the sun rise. After refusing breakfast, but accepting coffee, we packed up, bought pain chocolate from the bakery and sat up by the canal to eat them whilst drying our tent. Once again, we'd experienced the kindness of strangers.