Day 15 - Strasbourg to Neuenberg

We had a good and late night in Strasbourg enjoying the city. We did not sleep much as it was very hot and with the windows open it was very noisy. So we were all a bit tired and grumpy as we ate our breakfast in our bedroom. I wasn't going to pay 54 Euros for breakfast!

We left at 11am (again!!! Bob Yates would not be impressed, nor me for that matter) and soon picked up the Rhone-Rhine canal path. This has to rank as the best path in the world to make up for lost time. It was perfectly surfaced, dead straight and flat, and going parallel to the Route of the Rhine and with a slight tail wind. After a quick stop for a bar we pressed on leaving Chris to catch up. After a while a group of 4 very fit, tanned roadies all in the same club kit came shooting passed, and hanging on, quite happily to the back of the group was Chris with a huge smile on his face. We were going at about 16-17 mph they must have being biking at 25-27 mph.

After 50k on the canal path we stopped for lunch in Marckolsheim, yet another gorgeous but quiet town in France. Thunder was promised and had been threatening for a while. As we ate our pizza/pasta lunch the thunderstorm arrived. It was short but very dramatic with hailstones the size of marbles. (Photo to follow)

Fortunately it cleared by 3 pm and as the perfect cycle path had finished we continued on the roads through Artzenheim and Kunheim before crossing the Rhine back to Germany on the South edge of Breisach am Rhein. The path was now the good but unpaved path that is common in Germany. It closely followed the Rhine route, therefore made navigation easy, which is a big bonus. There is nothing I find more frustrating during cycle touring then going the wrong way, or standing on the roadside not having a clue where you are. We had decided to stop in Neuenberg, and about 10k before in Gressheim we spotted a lovely spot by the river for a rest.

The next part is written by Chris, or actually by Paula typing what Chris has written, I just wish his English essays were this good...

"Somewhere in the last 10k we stopped at a place along the Rhine to skim some stones and have a possible swim. With Chris in the shallows throwing rocks and the girls having a dip it was looking like a good end to the day. However the mood changed as Sarah's scream cut through the air. She had strayed too near the rapids. As she desperately struggled to swim out a small crowd gathered. The pull was too strong and soon she faced the inevitable....... She was going to have to face the churning water and the skull smashing rocks. Suddenly there was another body in the water. Chris had heard the commotion, raced to the bridge and leapt off to rescue his sister. With Sarah still panicking he approached. He shouted over the roar of the rapid to go with the flow feet first. As they were pulled down the river the under currents ripped them down and then threw them back to the surface. Whilst they dogged boulders and treaded water Chris was looking for a place to drag them out. Finally the river slowed and Chris took the opportunity to drag Sarah to the river edge. The crowd cheered as they saw the act of heroism. Sarah only had a few cuts and bruises, Chris and Sarah were fine."

After that drama the last 10k flew by, and we soon in Neuenberg where we booked "Zimmer Frei" (rooms available) instead of a hotel. It was cheaper than we normally pay, 138 euros including breakfast. Normally it is close to 200 euros. I showered and instantly fell asleep and had to be woken for dinner, where we had our first schnitzel and schnapps of our stay in Germany. A good end to a good day

Today's stats
Distance 102.4k
Time 4.50.13
Average speed 21.1kph ( fastest so far)
Climb 199m
Total distance 1238k