Accommodation: The Reunion 44 Historical Center (Airbnb), host Ines. One-bedroom apartment in historic city center, third floor, washer, wifi. The apartment was large and airy, but very cheaply furnished. As we unpacked, two of the curtains fell off the windows (we were nowhere near them), we had to take the shower curtain down to open the bathroom window, the washer didn't work... Oh, well. As Ken said, we were just staying one night.
Bike: 44 miles, 1350 feet of climb
Lunch: Plum cake from a bakery
Dinner: La Cant'in, an urban restaurant, with fresh food inspired by French tradition. We had creole-seasoned beef with rice, salad, and plantain, and curried salmon with rice, salad, and grilled vegetables. The food was good and different, and the restaurant is off on a quiet side street away from the busy main square.
It was a longish but fairly easy route today. The climbing came in the first half, as we wound through a few more small towns with old churches and half-timbered buildings. Navigation was pretty easy, and we just kind of relaxed and spun the wheels, especially in the last half of the day.
A guy from Philadelphia rode with us for a few miles. He was on an extended trip from Romania to Nevers, France, and was currently with three friends who had joined him for two weeks. We leap-frogged the four of them several times during the next hour.
A little after noon, we queued up at a good bakery and bought big slices of plum cake. Mmm. We found a little shade and a low wall outside an old stone church that is now used as a music hall, and ate our treat while listening to a practice session.
As we left town, we passed our new friends from Philadelphia, who had stopped at an outside cafe.
About then, we finally heard from our host for Mullhouse, who had not been responding to our messages asking about check-in times and process. She said she would meet us at the apartment at 17:00.
We pulled into Mullhouse about 16:00, grabbed cold water and juice from the grocery store, and read books on a bench until check-in time.
First showers, then dinner. We found a great place not too far away, walked through the square and around the big cathedral, and enjoyed our evening.
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| Storks. |
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| The main square. I think this was the mayor's office. |
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| Cathedral on the main square. |
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| Every city and market town has a carousel. |
