The added space of the caravan awning was a real luxury this morning to pack and organise our stuff. Combined with toilet facilities, warm radiators and charging outlets we were off to a leisurely start.
As it wasn’t raining we finally made the effort and swapped the pedals and seats around on the trike for us to swap positions. Louis would now be navigator and myself on steering, aka not crashing. However, we found that the seat posts weren’t cross compatible between frames. So those had to be swapped back and our sit-bones would just have to readjust to the different saddle.
It started to rain again just as we set off through Saarbrüken. A powerful industrial city to put it nicely. We instantly thought the trike was about to tip over as we were both terribly not used to the different seats and cambers. We missed our first turn and my steering was shaky, but we soon made it through the city and back onto the canal path. It turned out after this the navigator and driver were going to be eased in as we had nearly 80 km dead along the same canal towpath.
We were soon crossing into France, and border town of Saareguemines. There was no sign, so we didn’t realise we were back in France for about half an hour. Our foray into Germany had been brief.
The rain was on and off through the morning but we were making good speed, only slowed by toilet breaks. After about 26 miles we stopped for lunch while it was dry. We ate some soggy bread rolls we’d bought yesterday all the way back in Perl, that had been rained on for a whole day. The bench we chose was maybe a defect as it was about 30cm off the ground. And there was wet cut grass everywhere. But, it was still a nice lunch stop on the waterway.
We then powered on again up the path. There was on and off headwind to go with the on and off rain but nothing terrible. It was flat as a pancake the whole day except the occasional bridge over to the other side. This meant the legs were constantly turning and was actually a bit of a workout. The worst part was the path had a terrible camber that we were fighting all day. That and the new saddles to get used to. But we were thankful it wasn’t gravel and carried on.
We arrived in Mittershiem after 40 or so miles. We assumed it would be a big place with at least a coffee shop to enjoy as it had been on the bike path signs for a while. However the only cafe we found was only open Friday to Sunday. And we couldn’t really afford the 2 day wait til it opened. We tucked into our snack bag instead then set off again. Or at least tried to. Louis’ left pedal fell off as he went to push away. Not the part attached to the crank arm but the pedal falling off the spindle. Luckily it was a quick and easy fix but we have no idea how that happened. Must be the camber.
We pushed onto Langatte that Google told us actually had an open shop and bakery this day of the week. The stint to here became harder as the wind picked up and tiredness had set in a little. As we arrived it seemed like a ghost town. Is this possibly the least inhabited area of France? But the bakery was open and we had a load of food. Rachael met us here too, and despite how dead it was, there was a constant stream of customers driving to the bakery and away again. Maybe the only open place in a 20 mile radius. After our 3 courses and hot drinks we pootled over to the tiny shop opposite. We bought their only bag of pasta, conveniently it was Coquillettes, a new shape for us. We got their only sauce and also some grated cheese and lardons as some added extras. Because we’d be cooking for a guest for the first time and Louis was desperate to try the frying pan out.
We gently cycled out of the town in search of a place to camp. We cycled through Keprich Aux Bois and turned off onto some smaller lanes. Of course now being off the canal we had some hills to get stuck into.
We found a spot next to an old water tower, that was next to a forest. The grass was cut and we hoped the trees either side of the road would offer some protection. Oh we were wrong about that. If anything it was the windiest spot we’d been at all day.
We cooked our deluxe pasta, sauce, cheese and lardons and it was a delicious meal. Rachael got to see behind the scenes of our patented sock oven glove draining technique. We had a few biscuits for desert and then chatted a bit. Made loose plans to head for Munich after Basel, before we said bye to Rachael. She promised a 5* review as our first roadside restaurant guest. As we were getting packed away for the night, the light was fading, the drizzle turned heavier and we had to get a hurry on. Then just as we were brushing our teeth and about to turn in a car pulled up and parked off the road right next to the water tower.
For a few minutes nothing happened and then suddenly a man appeared dressed very much like a hunter. With a rifle and all. We deciphered that he said it’s okay for us to stay here tonight as long as we don’t go walking into the woods. As they’re hunting wild boar in there. We had wondered what the occasional shot in the distance was.
As we got into the tent Louis got into a deep dive of wild boar hunting research. Turns out they’re nocturnal so they have to hunt them at night. And they reproduce so quickly it’s usually to cull them. If you want more info please ask Louis.
Another good day in the books with only a small mechanical. And no crashes! Time to be lulled to sleep by the wind, rain and gunshots.
Daily stats
87 km. 487 m elevation gain. 4 hrs 35 moving time.
Cumulative trip stats
874 km. 7,754 m elevation gain. 52 hrs 10 mins moving time.
