The cycle trip yesterday from the pretty and sleepy village of Neuburg was only 23.11 k’s. But it was stinking stinking hot. We crossed the border at Lauterburg, but paused on the German side hoping for a last cool drink in Germany – but alas at the border the 2 German establishments were not open yet!!!
We rode over and into the little French village possibly also Lauterburg, although that was not clear to us. We had a coffee sitting in a little cafe on the main street surrounded by many many public flower arrangements. Europe does public flower arrangements that surprise us every day by their extravagant colour combinations and drama. In France that is even more so. Such vibrant use of colour.
And of course our pet wasps are following us still.
Unprecedented for us is that after our arrival here in searing heat, and having been soaked by a sudden thunder storm we then went out for a ride into the village and had a couple of wines in a lovely old pub/bar which made our total ride for the day a nearly respectable 29.87.
Now you might ask – how did we find the pub/cafe? Well, we arrived in the village at what might have been the main street and looked at what was available (what was open on this stinking hot Sunday), and an elderly Frenchman virtually herded us into the place. He stood and pointed and spoke in French to us, while we looked at the building he kept gesticulating and talking his approval, and finally he nodded as we got to the entrance and looked like we were getting off our bikes and then he simply disappeared.
Turns out this building built in the 1700′s was one of the few that remained unscathed in WWII. So thank you to the Frenchman who insisted we go there. Modern History of Seltz
We did then ride to the Rhine, via a little street and stopped to admire a tree, unlike any we have seen before. A couple in garden spoke with us in “ENGLISH”. She was English and he was French, they live in England and were visiting family in this village. They didn’t know the type of tree – but what we found interesting is that the long (very long branches) are longer out than the height of the tree – and you would expect the tree to topple due to the weight out to one side. I have pictures and we will discover what the tree is some time. These two also sent us towards the Rhine and to a pleasant shady bike path as well. I think the shade was well worth it. Also as a result of speaking with them we are now leaving the Rhine and taking the train to Colmar and cycling to a village between Colmar and the Vosges Mountains where will stay 3 nights and explore in and around before heading towards Switzerland.
Temperature prediction today is up to 37 depending on whether you check the weather on accuweather or on the TV. Which is why we are taking the train via Strasbourg to Colmar and cycling only the last bit.
Tags: Bike Rides, Lauterburg, Neuburg, Seltz
