I had a late night last night, as I had the urge to watch some more Ted Lasso. I’m a sucker for stories about coaches. It didn’t matter as I needed to leave Strasbourg via Decathlon with two new water bottles and they weren’t open until 10am. The other bottles were turning green.
I went to the cafe next door for a coffee and a baguette for breakfast but the bread hadn’t yet arrived, so I went back and packed my things before trying them again. I had better luck this time. I have to say that the Noisettes (Macchiatos) in France, are my favourite coffee so far in Europe.
It was easy leaving Strasbourg via a few short bike paths that delivered me to a path beside a canal then over to Decathlon. At the nearby Aldi, I loaded up with food for second breakfast and lunch and made my way back to the bike path beside the canal.
And there I stayed for most of the day. I usually think that canals are boring, but these ones – the Rhone to Rhine canal and a smaller nameless one near it – was great. Some of the locks were super narrow for the boats and generally, the water was pretty clean. The smaller canal had some large fish but no fishermen. (You would have loved it Joe).
After riding with Clare and Miles for five days, I got in the habit of stopping and making a mid-morning coffee. So today, I did the same. Very civilised.
Lunch was a hour later in a similar spot beside the canal in the shade. Then it wasn’t too far to Neuf-Brisach where the camping ground really caters for cyclists. I talked to most of them as we cooked our dinners on the tables and chairs provided. It was a great way to wind down after quite a hot and dusty day.
Today, the other cyclists seemed a more friendly bunch with fewer and fewer ebikers as the day progresses.
