We are well on our way and a lot has happened since I last checked in.  Leaving Troyes we continued on into the Champagne district of northern France on Wednesday.  It was scheduled to be the longest ride of the tour, 140km.  Jim and I managed however to get lost and bumped up our total to 160km by the time we made it into camp.  We have had to adjust to this company’s mode of operating.  This includedcopying down handwritten instructions each day and little to no support during the ride other than a lunch stop.  You can see the instructions for Wednesday here. We ran out of water in 37 degree C heat (98 F) but were saved when Jim stopped in a shop near the road and begged water from a lovely French woman glass artist (Merci beaucoup!!).   The ride itself was beautiful and on quiet back roads and cycle paths.  My ability to appreciate the beauty varied with “lostness”, hydration and blood sugar levels  🙂  😦  :-).   So having learned our lesson and better prepared, we spent the next several days completing our journey across France.  I enjoyed using my minimal but useful French “Ou et la Rue St Jacques, s’il vous plait?”

We climbed into the Alsace region crossing a pass that was used in the Tour de France a few years ago.  Somewhat worried about the climb on the recumbent bicycles,  Jim and I both did fine, thanks in part to the arrival of clouds and a smidge of rain.The descent was a blast, 18km of swooping curves and doable grades (well, Jim did have his first flat but I was up ahead, blissfully ignorant).

Yesterday we headed into Germany.  Had our first real rain while riding but it was warm enough to stay comfortable.  Today is a stopover day in Freiburg and we are spending it resting, eating, and repacking (Jon L we think of you every time we sort and re-sort our gear!)

 Off we go across southern Germany tomorrow with some significant elevation gain.  Wish us stout German legs and hearts!

Auf Wiedersehen!