Bitche to Strasbourg

August 8, 2016

After breakfast and a stop at the supermarché for water, we headed out of town with a good view of the Citadel behind us.

Today's ride to Strasbourg.

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We had a slow but minor climb out of Bitche. A left turn at the top put us onto a road only labeled as Wolfgarten (Wolf Garden) on Google Maps, but on the ground, it was more like a park road. But then, we were in a park, the Parc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord, and we would stay there for a good 19 more miles. It was beautiful riding. And all downhill for the most part. Not that we complain about climbing, but it was a nice change of pace.

Entering the Parc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord.

On a slight descent. Much of this part of the ride was rolling terrain until we descended to Mouterhouse.

After about seven miles of flat or descending riding through a forest, we came into Mouterhouse and saw some beautiful mountain lakes that we did not photograph well. You will need to go visit! From there it leveled out further into a bit of a valley before we had an easy climb through a pass and down to Zinswiller.

Coming into Zinswiller, we had a second opportunity to photograph lakes.

And from there it was rolling to flat country all the way to the Canal de Muehlbach, a canal with a bike trail that took us the last 11 miles into Strasbourg. Here are some pics along the way.

A bike trail literally in the middle of nowhere!

And another ride through a forest managed by the local commune.

We were temporarily caught at the railroad crossing coming into Haguenau.

The train came shortly after . . . unlike our long wait in Italy!

But there is more to tell.

I got my hair cut! I had always planned to do it around Strasbourg, which is about the right timing if I were still in the States. Mark knew this, so as we were biking along through a not-so-great town (Haguenau), he spied this coiffeur joint at 12 euros for hommes. I couldn't pass that one up and figured at that price it would be pretty cut and dry . . . and quick. And it was! Not only that, but Abdel, a Tunisian who either owns or works the shop, gave me my first "threading." You'll need to Google that, but it was interesting to say the least. All in a day's bike ride. So if you get to Haguenau, check out Fashion Coiff 67 (on Facebook as well).

The canal trail was very pleasant, with a fair amount of boat traffic and functioning locks every several miles.

And the ride into Strasbourg was as easy, or maybe easier, than my last trip in 2010.

The trail and streetcar (tram) along the canal in Strasbourg. Note the grass track bed.

All of the bridges over the canal had flowers on them. Lots of flowers!

Today's ride: 52 miles (84 km)
Total: 399 miles (642 km)

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