2 June, 2015

We have sun – yippee!  We’re woken early by a heavy droning sound which we thought to be a jet-ski or some such device.  We had a discussion about how annoying it would be to live by such a lovely river bank but have to put up with the noise of the watersports.  However, once we set off we discovered that all the noise was coming from some bridge renovations in the centre of town.  We had to cross the bridge holding our breath, not easy riding a bike, through great clouds of dust.

Once on our way we quickly reach the start of the Canal Rhone au Rhin, which leads eventually to the Rhine.  We have a sense of excitement that comes with knowing that we are approaching the border into another country.  It will take us two or three days though to actually get there.

The day is spent alongside either canal or river and there is a very different feel to the countryside.  It is very picturesque and is developing into hilly, wooded slopes, often with limestone cliffs, overlooking the river.  It is a welcome change of scenery.

Of course, the price for all this attractive terrain is climbing.  Some very sudden steep inclines which come as a bit of a shock for the legs after days, if not week, of flat stuff.

The only negative of the day was getting to the campsite for our overnight stop involved launching ourselves onto a dual carriageway of insane traffic for a couple of kilometres.  It is so long since we have cycled in traffic that we have forgotten just how awful it is.  To add insult to injury it was one of those expensive campsites that have the worst facilities.  The plots were rock hard with deep ruts in the ground, needless to say a decent night’s sleep was not forthcoming, so we were up at 6am and keen to be off.