Rhine River Cycling Day 3: Alsace

Day3:  Alsace Region of France

Well, it seems that our modified Argonne Labs diet to ward off jet lag was successful.  Although I am getting up early, neither Jeri nor I Have had one bit of jet-lag here or going to and returning from Tahiti.  I would highly recommend it for any significant travel.

This morning's sunrise showed promise for yet another beautiful (but hot) day of riding.

Sunrise over the Rhine

Our plan was to start riding early, but a problem with a boat ahead of us in one of the locks backed up boat traffic preventing us from getting to our dock for several hours (we were supposed to be tied up at 4:30am).  

Early morning traffic waiting for lock clearance

It did allow us to witness a lock in action, though, front row center.

Lock watch

Lock opening for our boat

Ben grabbing a good photo spot

Tying up in the lock

Exiting the lock to our dock in Breisach, Germany

Our 7:30 start became 10:00 as the temperatures rose.

We bussed to the Alsacian town of Ostheim to our awaiting bikes.This region of France borders Germany and Switzerland, and the culture is a mixture of both German and French.  In the late 1800's, Germany annexed Alsace with it remains in German hands until the end of WWI when the Treaty of Versailles required Germany to cede this area to France.  Early in WWII, the Nazis invaded the region claiming it was liberating its citizens that were unjustly being subjugated by the French.  After the war, the region went back to France and Germany seems to have made peace with this.

Start of our ride in Ostheim, France in the Alsace region

The stork is the symbol of Alsace

The cycling in the region was beautiful, though laden with some very challenging hills (16% grades), made even harder by the soaring temps (high 80's, maybe 90).

The hills seemed to be no problem though for the e-bikes in the group

The gang on the move

Denise and Ben

Suzie and Rich

Laura

Neil and Denise

Craig and Jeri (no e-bike!)

One of our stops along the way was the town of Riquewihr.  Riquewihr is a town on the Alsace Wine Route in eastern France. Its cobbled streets are dotted with half-timbered winemakers’ shops and tasting rooms

City gate of Riquewihr

Rich and Suzie at city gate of Riquewihr

Craig and Jeri at city gate of Riquewihr

and bakeries.

Riquewihr

The whole town had a very Disneyesque feel to it.

Riquewihr

Rothsteins and Cohens

The whole NH contingent

The remainder of the ride passed through vineyards and fields of wildflowers with rolling hills leading to quaint little towns marked by multiple church steeples.  One of our prettiest rides ever!

Descending to the end of the route in Eguisheim

At the end of our ride in Eguisheim, the BackRoads crew had a "light lunch " for us that included the classic Alsatian dish Flammekueche, and a sampling of Alsatian wines. Flammekueche is composed of bread dough rolled out very thinly in the shape of a rectangle or oval, which is covered with fromage blanc or creme fraiche and onions and lardons.  Basically, pizza.  The farmers in the region baked bread once a week, and the Flammekueche  was used to test the oven for ideal temperature.

We bussed back to the boat for a shower and a Backroads welcome toast followed by dinner and well deserved bed.  Tomorrow we explore Strasbourg, France, the formal seat of the European Parliament.