August 18, 2018
Obernai to Selestat
Picture postcard villages all the way .
August 18 Saturday 37kms
Picture postcard villages all the way .
It’s Picture postcard villages all the way today. Half timbered houses in deep tones of orange , pink, blue and green, flower boxes in full bloom and church steeples slow the journey and delight the eye. Terraced Vineyards extend up to forested hills.
| Heart | 0 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Obernai attracts plenty of holiday-makers,and the cafes and restaurants are filling up, though not over crowded.
We take a walk and have a quick look at the gothic Cathedral.
We notice many people setting out on day trips from the campground. En route, the small towns and vineyards are beautifully colourful- pinks, greens, blues and yellows. The vineyards are frequently terraced up hillsides.
A sign advertising tomatoes attracts our attention on the outskirts of a small village. We find the house and are sold a requested kilo of various types, freshly picked. Lunch sorted.
Our lunch break is interesting. We share the shady spot with a French couple on a tandem. He has the front reclining, and she is behind slightly tilted. They have a trailer and have toured in Spain, Sardinia, and Serbia in the past. Now returning to Montbelliard.
By three, we welcome the temptation to stop at a Winstub. A wooden house with deep balcony, red geranium filled flower boxes and a terrace suppling a selection of local wines by one wine maker. We order the Mirabelle tart for good measure. It is a perfect match for the dry Reisling.
Fortunately we are on a quiet road after the wine. The route continues south through small towns and sparse traffic, each town with its own character.
We share a few moments with a Dutch couple who are looking for camping nearby. When we meet again in Sélestat, they have found two sites closed. Consequently, our arrival at Camping municipal, Les Cigognes, is with trepidation, as the "complet" sign was up. Both sets of cyclists adopt appropriate pleading poses, and are allowed to squeeze in.
Our patch is near a family cycling with four young children. They have been to the local piscine after their day's ride, and are a lovely family to observe as we cook and dine on our Alsace sausage and potatoes and salad.
Today's ride: 37 km (23 miles)
Total: 3,277 km (2,035 miles)
| Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 2 |
| Comment on this entry | Comment | 0 |