Day 14, 4 6 2013, Mulhouse to Baume-Les-Dames
Today was what cycle touring should be about. The weather was perfect, not too hot, we had a tailwind, and virtually all of the riding was off road, but along a very high-quality hot-mix cycle path.
We rode along the Rhine-Rhone canal and associated rivers, creeks and streams. The route is official, it is known as Euro Velo Route 6. A lot of it is very new. There are a couple of diversions onto quiet roads, but this could have added to only a few kilometers over the route.
The country was initially flat but we moved into steeper country as we entered the Jura region. Because we were on canal and river paths the terrain was virtually flat, and with the tailwind we were able to spin along at a very comfortable 27Km/hr or so. This is very pleasant riding.
The country as we entered the steeper sections was increasingly pretty.
We decided to stop when we saw an excellent prospect for a hotel. We asked for accomodation but were told, somewhat apologetically, that the hotel was fully booked. Clearly not all of the rooms were occupied, so we assume that they do not have the hotel fully prepared for guests.
We rode into Baume-Les-Dames and quickly found a hotel courtesy of TomTom’s hotel database. The hotel is typical of the hotels we stay at out of large centres. It is run by a lovely lady, is clean, very modest, slightly shabby in the French fashion, and completely comfortable. It is also cheap at 40E, breakfast not included.
So, we rode 123Km through lovely country, and a beautiful day, where everything fell into place. Who could ask for more?
The map below shows only an approximate route, as this time it was my fault that the GPS did not work.
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