Ride: 95km
13-24 deg
It was a good, flat easy 50km ride to Mulhouse to watch a
stage of the Tour de France. We rode along quiet roads or canal paths, which
were very wide and smooth. There were lots of bikes, roller-bladers, runners
and walkers out in the cool cloudy conditions. Mulhouse is undergoing major
works all over the city so it looked very ordinary. Not a nice place anyway, in
fact fairly ugly. Found the TDF finish area and saw the circus set up, but a
little hard to get close with all the bikes and gear about.
This was my final day with Graham (he went home on the Bike Express), so said our goodbyes and I left to see if I could get out of the city on the Colmar road, but couldn’t cross over the road due to the TDF barriers. So, I went until I could but by then I think I was a few km south east in the wrong direction. Just watched all the promotional things with all the throw-aways (got a cap). Then saw the peloton but couldn’t make out anyone as it was just a flash and they’re gone! King of the Mountain was out front.
I set off again, heading north, looking for the
right road, just kept following the compass and eventually got on the D201
which paralleled the A35 freeway which bikes can’t go on. Got to Colmar about
7pm, very tired after 95km, with the last 27km into a headwind. The first hotel
I came to was a Country Comfort for €55 + €6 for breakfast. It was nothing
flash but I needed a rest. Walked into town for dinner as the hotel restaurant
was closed. Had a paella and salad at a place similar to Sizzlers. Got caught
in a storm on the way home and got a bit wet.
End of my ride with Graham
Part of the TDF 'circus'
There goes the peloton with Lance in yellow
A country hospital in France
Fontaine Bruat, Colmar
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