I slept in a little and had a petit dejeuner in Colmar before heading out (because my apartment did not include breakfast). I had to search quite a bit to find an adequate breakfast spot, which was surprising. I thought the French were famous for pastries for god sake?!
Today’s ride was glorious. I was riding next to a canal for about 98% of the time. Mostly on the Eurovelo route 15 again. This follows the Canal du Rhône au Rhin, which I just learned (when Googling how to spell it) is one of the most important watershed canals of the French waterways, connecting the Rhine to the Saône and the Rhône and thereby the North Sea and the Mediterranean. Most of the route was dedicated and paved bike path! Lovely.
There were plenty of other cyclists on the route. My face was pressed into a permanent smile – both from enjoyment of the route and smiling and nodding at other cyclists!
The only, slight, downside with the canal side ride is that it didn’t pass through any towns. I didn’t have any lunch packed so I had to try my luck going into a nearby town slightly out of the way. A quick phone check showed that there was a restaurant about 11 km away from where I was and, miraculously, it said it was open. The time was nearing 2 pm which is basically the cut off time for feeding in France. If you don’t find yourself near a restaurant between 12 and 2 pm, you will likely go without food until they reopen for dinner around 7.
I was legging it to the town with the restaurant and, surprise surprise, when I arrive it is “closed.” I say this with quotes because there were locals sitting in the outdoor area drinking beers when I got there, but a server came out and explained that they were indeed closed – even though it was a full half hour before their website said they closed at 2 pm.
Ah well, luckily I had noticed a patisserie not far back. I made my way there and then tried to decipher the sandwich options. The woman working there was kind enough to explain to me what each and every sandwich contained. When she had trouble translating, she was so helpful as to actually open each sandwich wrapping, open the sandwich itself, and then poke through the ingredients with her fingers. Exceptional customer service, if a might concerning in terms of hygiene in a food dispensing business. After her explanations I felt I had about the same level of knowledge of what was in the sandwiches as before, so I just picked one at random. It was good.
Finally, I made it to Strasbourg and to my hotel. This hotel is run by a company called “Happy People.” I was a little concerned when I recieved their welcome email yesterday:
“We are happy and impatient to welcome you to this hybrid place where a unifying spirit reigns for the great tribes, the travellers but also the residents”
I considered cancelling but I had already paid a non-refundable deposit. When I arrived I was pleased to find it was actually quite normal and comfortable. However, there was an issue of where to store my bike overnight and the hotel deskman was anything but happy to make the exceptional allowance to keep my bike inside the hotel. I guess he forgot to drink his happy Kool-aid this morning.
I stashed my stuff, showered, and then hit the town. I visited the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. I did a little meander through the important sights in town. The Cathedral is highly ornate and stunning. I bought a chocolate milk. It was a nice afternoon.
This evening I will try to find something for dinner other than bread, cheese, and meat (which all I have been eating for what seems like two weeks straight) and I believe there is a free musical concert in the main square.
I am very excited to report that tomorrow I will be riding to a place called Bitche.
DOTD
An Idiot Broad Abroad 