Thursday 7^th August---We wanted to get some distance in today, so we stayed on the motorways back as far as Horb a Neckar and headed off cross-country to Freudenstadt.  The roads were lovely, not too much traffic to slow you down, and some wonderful views as we went back into the Black Forest.  We were in Freudenstadt by 12 o’clock and stopped in the towns square for a break and refreshments.  We parked up on the pavement next to a bandstand, got the jackets and lids off and Les went off for some drinks.  The bikes were getting looked at everywhere we stopped, for the reasons I’ve already mentioned but no one was concerned about us parking where we had, even the police. It’s a very picturesque town, the square was gorgeous-really clean with the shops all round the edge, and across the road was a huge church.  Outside that in the park were about 12 fountains that shot jets of water into the air intermittently.  We wanted to do what the German kids were doing and run through them getting cool, but it would have been bloody uncomfortable riding soaking wet so we refrained, and got ready for the next jaunt.

The next part took us into France at Drusenheim via, what on the map was a very bendy road over a mountain called the Schwarzwald Hochsrasse rising to 1163 metres.  The road to the base of the mountain was nice and steady, nice views in between the trees and fairly tame, until we got within 2 miles of the big hill.  It began to get really twisty and you needed your wits about you, but it was getting interesting.  As you started to climb you hit a series of S bends and switch backs, some of them very sharp so speed was not an option, nor was seeing much of the scenery, as you would be over the side if you took your eyes off the road.  After about 25 minutes you reach the top and the views are fantastic, you can see for miles and with the weather being so clear it was mesmerising.  Another good thing, although it was still hot it was a lot cooler up there, and we found out how much when we dropped down the other side.

We got to the bottom just past Buhl and it was roasting, the jackets came undone, the gloves were off but nothing seemed to help.  About a mile before the border we stopped for a drink, petrol and a leak, leaving us, and the bikes in the shade.  We were there about 20 minutes before we set off again for the border, we came round a right hand bend and you could see the border signs in front of you.  With nothing being marked on the map we rode up to the border, we could see the River Rhine in front of us, and the road turned sharp right.  Expecting a bridge round the corner I didn’t slow down that much, then F*** water, and a car stopped in the middle of the road.  It was a ferry to get across but no signs on the approach telling you, it was free which was a bonus but we had to be careful as the deck was like glass.  Off the other side and we headed north on the D468 towards the north west corner of France.  This again is where the maps became as much use as a chocolate fireguard, the road numbers were wrong, none of the place names you’d expect to find were on there, so having gone the wrong way a couple of times I despatched them to the bottom of my tank bag. 

Talking to the kids before we left the campsite, we thought we’d go and have a look at the Maginot Line, we got to Wissembourg about 3pm and stopped for a drink outside a pub where some other bikes were parked.  We had a quick natter with one of the riders, before sitting down to relax.  From there we headed west along the D3 towards the Mosel Valley, looking for somewhere to stay the night.  On my map I had seen a place called BITCHE, they pronounce it 'Beech' but I didn’t and I wanted to get a pic of Les next to the sign.  We turned off the main road onto a back road and followed the signs, riding for what seemed an eternity we pulled over at an area map in the woods.  According to that we had 20 kms to go, so after a short break we mounted up and headed off again.

In the middle of nowhere we came across a French Army Camp, not the sort of posting I would have liked but I suppose someone’s got to be there.  You never know them Belgians might invade???   Ten minutes later we began to climb towards Bitche, and as we emerged from behind the buildings there was a huge Castle type building up on a hill, they call it a Citadel, more on that later.  We went to the local tourist office and got directions to a campsite with a pool 15 kms away, again we got on the bikes and rode off for another night under the stars.  We got to the camp about 5:30pm which had the pool, plus a lake and play areas for the kids, and got ourselves set up in the area with no electricity-it’s cheaper apparently.  The pool was open till 7pm, so we sent the kids off, sorted everything out and joined them.  There was no feeling the water to see how cold it was, we didn’t care-it was cool and in we went.  It was gorgeous, all the aches seemed to flow away, and we felt refreshed again.  We came out just before it shut and went back to the tents.  Next we wanted some food but when we asked at the office, the shop was closed, so was the restaurant and bar-at 5 o’clock!!!

That was the first bit of trouble, once we’d got showered and dressed we headed off into the village to a restaurant we were told about.  Two pubs opposite each other, one sells food the other doesn’t so the decision was made for us.  We went into the food one and asked about a table, bearing in mind it was only 8pm, only to be told they were doing the food for the people in there, then that was it.  Tosser, who closes a restaurant at about 9:30, I did and still do reckon he was full of it, but what can you do.  The food looked crap anyway!  Back to the site office and we were told about one 5 kms the other way, so we got the bikes back out again and headed off.  We tried 3 other places on the way there but they all said they weren’t doing food.  We got to a pub on the side of the road and managed to get fed and watered before heading back and off to bed, more Pizza and ice cold Oranginas.

Report Content · · Web Hosting · Blog · Guestbooks · Message Forums · Mailing Lists
Easiest Website Builder ever! · Build your own toolbar · Free Talking Character · Email Marketing
powered by bravenet.com