This week’s on this day post comes from the 22nd-September-2013. And I’m in France on my way to Greece, dithering on which route to take. (Some things never change!)
Sunday, 22nd-September-2013, Gerardmer, France to Freiburg in Germany. 75 miles.
The day started with a seven-mile climb up the 1135m Col de la Schlucht, which took me a good two hours. On the way up, I was passed by several Lycra-clad idiots who didn’t acknowledge me at all. Not that it bothers me. I know I can cycle just as far as them on a bike that weighs a lot more than theirs. And I’m enjoying myself. I even got passed by a couple on skis. The skis did have wheels so they could go on the road. They must have been in training for cross-country skiing, ready for when the snow arrives.
It took me two hours to reach the top of Col de la Schlucht but only twenty minutes to ride the ten miles down the other side. Once at the bottom, which must have been around Munster, it was flat all the way to Colmar. While in Colmar, I had a little look around, trying to see if there was anywhere I recognised. I stayed here in 2010 on my Swiss bike ride. Some bits were familiar. The pretty wooden-clad buildings and a church that had green tiles on the roof, but that was about it. Mind you. I didn’t spend too long looking, as remarkably, I found myself on the right road out of town.
Decisions Decisions
I had a fairly short ride from Colmar to the Rhine and the border with Germany. Once at the Rhine, I was in two minds as to whether to cycle down the Rhine to Lake Constance or take the more direct route, my original route. Going down the Rhine would be more pleasant, and it would be a flat ride on cycle paths, but it would be a long way around.
I started to follow the Rhine, but after about ten miles, I changed my mind. I then tried to return to my original route by cutting across country using cycle paths, which proved to be an absolute nightmare. But eventually, I found my way back to my original route. Although I’m still not convinced it’s the best way, we’ll see tomorrow!
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