Rain, rain, go away!

---

---

Rain is not something we are particularly fond of when cycle touring and camping. Lying in the tent hearing the rain drops pelting down it always seems a daunting prospect to get up, and it’s tempting to have…a tent day (lying in bed wondering if the tent is waterproof and your shoes are wet!) But, after 3 weeks of sunshine, we must take it as it comes, and learn to live with ‘the nature’!

Having left Nancy we followed the Marne du Rhin canal, using quiet back country French roads (D2, D955). It was a beautiful ride through the Parc National du Lorraine. From there we went to Sarrebourg and saw the beautiful Chapel des Cordeliers (Marc Chagall leadlight) before reaching Strasbourg, and rejoining the Rhine on its southward course.

In Strasbourg campground we discovered we are gaining international notoriety! (we met an English cycle tourist who had followed us through Kent, about 2 days behind us, camping on the same farm we did. He had even heard about us and our proposed journey)

Continuing up the Rhine, we rested in Neuf Brisach, a fortified town built in 1700 in a giant star shape, (postcards show it looks amazing from the sky) on the border of France and Germany. It’s crazy to think that the town changed hands between French and Germans 5 times in 150 years, and makes you wonder what the future holds.

We now have a hand carved 1940’s cuckoo clock! Found in a second hand store on the outskirts of Neuf Brisach, it travelled today 50 km on the back of Nig’s bike (it sounded as if he was carrying a piano as the springs vibrated over every bump) Post offices keep random hours in France but hopefully it will make it in the post tomorrow.

May 6 DAY 22
Nancy to Gondrexange
Hot with tail wind. Short easy hills, undulating, quiet roads. 77.5 km
Beautiful countryside with wild turtles and lots of forests and birds
Visited nancy art noveau museum
Camping 11.80
Food and drink 10.70
Post cards/stamps 5.40
Total 27.90

May 7 DAY 23
Gondrexange to Strasbourg 80.8km
Overcast - Drizzling rain intermittently.
Strong winds from south west.
Visited Chapel de Cordeliers in Sarrebourg , amazing stainglass windows.
Camping with electricity 17 euro
Food and drink 31 euro
Entrance fee to Chapel x 2 4.60 euro
Postcard 1.50
Total = 54.10 euro

May 8 Strasburg - Rhinau 56 Km DAY 24
VE Day Public Holiday
Steady rain all day and strong to moderate head winds, flat with sealed and unsealed roads
Camping 11.30 incl electric
Visited Strasburg in morning
Beer 3.00

Total 14.30 Euro


May 9 Rhinau to Neuf Brisach 43.5 KM DAY 25 Total to date 1515 Km
Light rain head winds,
Lovely road through forest next to Rhine, flat
Meal in kebab place 18.50
Supermarket and bread 11.00
Camping municipal 12.00
Map 1,50

Total 43.00

May 10 Rest day Neuf Brisach - day trip to Colmar
Bus to Colmar and back 12.40
Camping 12.00
Supermarket 24
Waterproof pants (Sonya) 99.50
Sleeping bags x 2 70.00
Internet 2 euro
Post office 2.40
Additional food and drink 4.60
Card and stickers 3.50

Total 230.40!!!

May 11 Neuf Brisach to Mulhouse 50.5km
Strong head winds, threatening rain
Camping 11.20
Supermarket 14
Additional food and drink 8
1940’s Cuckoo clock from second hand shop 105
Packing materials 6

Total 144.20!!!

(will have to free camp for a month to make this one up! - hope the church goers found a good home for our old down sleeping bags left by the donation box!)

---