September 26th
It was blowing an absolute gale all night, which the tent only amplified. At around 4am the tent blew over and was sagging onto Louis’ face. He heroically sorted it out and got a few more hours sleep.
Our departure was delayed by the morning bike check when Louis found a broken spoke. Luckily it wasn’t on the more troublesome right rear wheel, but the left. Which we have 2 spare spokes for, so that was dealt with. The wind kept blowing hard but we’re confident at some point today that it’ll finally be behind us.
We set off and it instantly started raining pretty heavily and we were somehow straight into the blustery conditions.
As the we were about to rejoin the canal path, there was a downhill ramp on with some bollards at the bottom stopping cars joining. As we tried to slow down on approach, it turned out even with our two (originally 3) brakes on full, we weren’t stopping at all. I had to put the emergency handbrake on, aka skid my foot along the floor. We just about managed to slow down enough to get through the barriers and onto the canal path. We then had a good chuckle and said we really would replace the front brake pads that had been on the to do list for a few days at least.
Once on the path we settled into a rhythm, pumping out the KM’s, fighting the camper and tree root bumps and enjoying our first slice of wind-behindness of the trip.
It was still raining slightly as we arrived in Saverne for our lunch stop. A pretty and large town right on the canal. With 30 miles ticked off pretty sharpish the spirits were high. A guy in a van stopped to talk to us about the trike and then laughed when we asked where a boulangerie was, as his reply was “everywhere”. With that we pootled up the Main Street, found one and apparently amused the cashier by saying we’d eat outside, in the drizzle.
With one course done and despite the conditions, Louis opted for an ice cream desert.
We hopped back on the bike, Louis ice cream in hand, and were ready to bosch out the next 15 miles or so. Strasbourg in no time.
We made it about 300 meters before getting a front wheel puncture. Shame it couldn’t happen before when we planned to stop but oh well. We then took the opportunity to also change the long overdue new brake pads.
Then we were off again! Until we realised a pannier had moved in the repairs and now my foot hit it every pedal stroke.
We sorted this and for the third time, we were really off. We pedalled out a good rhythm again through the rain, onwards towards Strasbourg.
Nearer Strasbourg the canal turned south and the wind became a headwind. The rain fell heavier and we were really pushing to now get there. We arrived on the outskirts and planned to get to a cafe to make a plan. Our initial route plan of EuroVelo 5 was only planned as far as Strasbourg. As during the planning meeting Louis said, don’t worry about after that as I doubt we’ll make it that far. Well, here we are Strasbourg! But we wouldn’t have made it without his supreme wheel rebuilding skills.
First we visited what Louis described as the nicest public toilets he’s ever been in. Then we were into the real centre, near petite-France. As we found a cafe, Louis realised there was an issue with the left bikes crank arm. Inside the cafe we got some hot drinks and tried to dry out a bit. Louis found some bike shops nearby that would be open for the next 30 mins or so. Back in the busy city streets, the rain was falling harder and the temperatures had really dropped off. We found the first shop but he had no interest in helping and told us to go to another down the road.
We arrived at Cyclable strasbourg and found the most helpful bike shop we’ve been in on this whole trip. The legend came out to look and instantly said he had a second hand crank arm that would fit and to bring the trike inside as they were about to close up to everyone else. Inside they had a good chat about the trike and fixed it within a few minutes. They didn’t even charge us so we stuck some cash in the counter piggy bank.
Back outside, it was 6pm but somehow already getting dark. The rain was falling as hard as ever and we were in the middle of a large city. With everything we owned, including Louis’ sleeping bag being drenched, and myself starting to shiver, we opted to treat ourselves to a hotel for one night. We found one nearby on booking and cycled there to talk in person. Turned out they had a bike sticker in their reception and a free locked bike shed we could use. As we were checking in, another long distance tourer arrived, having cycled from Hamburg. On one of those bicycles not tricycles mind you.
Once in we set about using all the radiators and fans to dry every item possible. We then decided that our next path would be on EuroVelo 15 (not 5) along the river Rhine to Basel, Switzerland. Annoyingly, ever so slightly uphill and into the wind. From there, we’ll head east, skirting around some mountain ranges and then set our sights on Munich. Rachael had invited us with the aim to be there by the end of next week to catch a German bank holiday for the end of Oktoberfest. It seems a good a plan as any. We’ll see if the weather and tricycle play ball.
Daily stats
91 km. 670 m elevation gain. 4 hrs 58 mins moving time.
Cumulative trip stats
965 km. 8,424 m elevation gain. 57 hrs 8 mins moving time
