Saturday 27th September 2014 - Up, packed up, wanted to get away early to try to make Strasbourg. Canal cycle should be all the way there. Slept really well last night, nice warm cozy night in sleeping bag.
Lovely sunny morning again. Just packed up tent wet to get away. About 10km stopped at Mittersheim and got an almond croissant, a white icing custard éclair and some orange juice. Yummy.
Back on the canal. Going up the canal so constant pedalling and passing the locks. Each one had a wee house at it, some were lived in, some were empty. People on boats going up and down. Not many other people on the path though, so I could break the 20kmph speed limit for cyclists.
Not much to say, just a sunny days cycle in the country along a canal. Was lovely and at 1.30pm a sign read 28 degrees. Hot days again.
Imagining how to build a canal. Where do you start? How long would it take to complete miles and miles of a canal? Where do you get the water from? What if there's a leak, how would you ever find it? If all the locks were open at the same time would it drain empty? Plenty of time to think about these things today.
One stage where the canals joined each other, with big lakes at either side, I had to cross over a foot bridge. They had put the guttering up the sides of the steps to wheel the bikes over, but it was so steep and my bike is quite heavy. Bit of an effort and it was also metal grating, so slippy.
Took some photos at the top, but paranoid about dropping something as it would've been plop into the water below.
Wanted some food and a stop about lunchtime. Tried various wee villages just off the canal. Either there was no shop, or as they do in France, they were closed between 12-3pm. Not even any cafes or bars either, so frustrating. We don't know how lucky we are at home being able to buy anything, anytime, anywhere.
Ventured into the bigger town of Sarrebourg. Got a supermarket with millions of people doing their Saturday shop.
Had to then do the annoying task of figure out a route by road, as the next stretch of canal was just a grassy bank each side.
I was following the Canal des Houilleres de la Sarre, now onto the Canal de la Marne au Rhin.
This canal wasn't being used and the wildlife had taken it over. I was also following it downwards which was good! At one stage they had put in a board walk way right down the middle through a lock. I can now say I've cycled in a canal! I stopped at one of the seats here and had some peanuts and water, contemplating what to do next. It was 5pm.
Another 10km or so to Saverne, Strasbourg off the menu for today. Saw a campsite and a restaurant round the corner and decided I'd had enough of today.
Nice small campsite. Camping du Plan Incline. Lady really friendly and offered me a small old caravan to sleep in if I wanted as well. I declined as tent needs up and dried out. It also smelt a bit funny inside.
Went and had a drink at the restaurant, smelling some amazing whafts of food. Thought I'd blow the budget and eat here tonight, maybe get a big juicy steak and all the trimmings.
Went to pay for drink and asked about eating there tonight. Woman said there was no places for this evening. Sigh. Maybe it was cause I smelled perhaps, as there was no one there at all, apart from a few other tables just drinking. I'll be watching later to see if it gets busy, or if she was telling me porkies.
Made do with my last packet of trusty beef jerky instead. Similar to my original idea of dinner, but just ever so slightly lacking.
Some man keeps coming over to talk to me and just been again to invite me over for drinks at their van. He speaks no English, my French is basic, I've got the hunger rage starting and I'm cold. So no. Go away and leave me alone please.
Excited about the two croissants I ordered for the morning...only 12 or so hours to go!!
Day 29 - 27.09.14
Bissert to Plan Incline, France
11am to 5pm
4hr 1min cycling
69.1km
1914 calories
752 metres asc
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