After a cold, damp night, we were up by 8am, but a bit like lizards and slow moving. Will went and collected our fresh bread that I had ordered yesterday, so we could eat breakfast, and got the water on for coffee. It was beautiful and sunny, so we sat in our deck chairs and ate breakfast and chatted to Peter while the tent dried out.
Almost ready to hit the road, last bit of luggage going on.
Peter from Austria feeling a bit slow today, after two big days. I know it.
Finally we all decided it was time to go, and we had planned an attempt at a 100km day. Following the Rhine to Basel (60kms), would be pretty flat, the weather was perfect, and we felt good after two cruisie days. So we better get started. Finally we got out of there around 10:30am. Gees, procrastinators!
What a great start to the day. Cool, cruisie, and a good knee warm up.
We stuck to the German side initially, which was a lovely start alongside the river, on a dirt path covered by trees. The river was moving fast, and it was fun to watch the ducks facing into it, not moving. I think we took a wrong turn, and crossed the river, back into Switzerland, and found ourselves back on the number 2 route. Cool.
In Germany, heading towards some smelter thing, Nickle I think Fredy said.
The riding was great, with no big hills, just rolling countryside, small villages, and cycle path pretty much all the way. Through one area, we noticed the homes were much larger, nicer and obviously much more expensive. We passed a tandem couple relaxing on a bench having lunch and said hi as we rode past.
This was great, straight, flat and through the forest.
From there we went into the forest. It was dirt, but a great ride. Medieval forest, that looked like Robin Hood might jump out or something. Really nice. As we were almost through, the tandem bikers caught us up. They were a couple from Scotland, heading to Basel. We rode and chatted for a while, until we came to the centre of an old town, Rheinfelden. We all stopped, and then separated. It was a beautiful place.
Watching for bandits, and thieves. Great ride.
Scottish couple who passed us. Just retired and loving it.
Just entering the old town of Rheinfelden. It is lovely.
We pushed on without a break, but we were still feeling strong, and made it to the outskirts of Basel, where we stopped following the Route 2 signs and got Davo GPS, on the go programming him for Mulhouse. We were hoping he would skirt us around Basel, as it is a huge place on the border of three countries. But alas poor Davo, he is no Fredy. He took us around one block then went to the black screen of death. Aargh! Not now Dave, this is serious!
Checking on Maps.me, we decided to continue on this main road into Basel and hope Davo could get his shit together. We arrived safely into Sweet Basel (yes, that is the name of the suburb), and decided to stop and eat, I also needed to get some charge in my phone so we could get the information of the hotel we'd booked. We stopped at a kebab place, who were nice enough to to let me charge my phone while we ate. Ugh, it was so good.
Old town, Basel. Friggin photo bombed again.
Love the statues on the old buildings.
Looking across the Rhine to Germany. Weird.
Reprogrammed Davo, and continued on through Basel. Yep, right through the centre! Bloody hell! But, it had cycle paths, trams, lots of traffic lights, and suddenly, an amazing old town area. So nice! It didn't take long for Davo to fail again, and this time we just stuck to the D66 heading to Mulhouse. Stupid GPS must of realised we've developed half a brain, and then started working again.
At a round about, the GPS sent us off the D66, away from Mulhouse, and tried to put us on a river. We were getting tired now, and with only 16kms to go, we were not taking any chances, so we ignored it and followed the signs, turning left in Kembs. About 3kms down the road, Davo decided to try again, and directed us to turn right. Our heads were down and legs pushing, so we almost didn't listen again. But for some reason, I looked up and spotted the sign! Mulhouse 14kms, cycle route. Ok, let's do it!
Good to be off the road again, much more relaxing for tired cyclists.
Much nicer than the road, and it took us through some parkland to the river (probably the one he was trying to put us on). Then we just rode along this path along the river, for another 5 or 6kms, until it directed us into the outer ring of Milhouse. It was also on the EV6. Well signposted, and easy to follow.
An old WW2 tank on the other side of this little river in France.
Not far now, Will, hang in there with your eyes.
Great to be on the signposted EV6. Wish they were all like this.
We tried putting the hotel address into Davo, but he couldn't find it, so using the Booking.com directions, we managed to get ourselves to the right place. We just couldn't find the Urban Hotel??? It should be right here? So we went up and down the street 3 times, until we found the number 8, and the name of the hotel had changed to Victoria Gardens.....ugh!
Almost there, two more bridges then we cross to our hotel, hopefully.
So no problems with check in, and safe spot to store bikes, and elevator to get us up to floor 2, and as we step out of the elevator, we are struck by how similar it looks to a Hospital. It is an old Hospital. Wow! We even had to go through the old style swinging doors to the next "ward" to find out room. Which still looks like a hospital room, and smells like one. I think we are in the psychiatric ward, as our door cannot be locked...ha ha ha...that would be right.
For 40€, we aren't complaining. Hot shower and comfy bed. I'm sure I heard Will calling out for a nurse through the night. Nurse was too tired!
Haha....brilliant! NURSE!!!
ReplyDelete