2005 - Greg's Europe Tour by Bicycle: Day 27: Tue 12 Jul

Ride: 28km

20 to 28 deg

Was able to talk to Besi this morning, so a lot happier now. A simple breakfast of bread, jam and coffee; couldn’t ask for much more for the price paid. Back on the canal path for 20km (photos of some boats, barge/bridge) and then into Saverne proper. Saverne is very nice, friendly people, a lovely little town (see photos of buildings and lock/boats). Found some great strawberries and then back onto the canal path until it ended without warning nor explanation. Had to drag my bike (and luggage) up a bank and lift it over a barrier onto the road. Rode NW and found the road to Sarrebourg where I had a yummy vanilla slice. Then had some lunch – bread and jam and banana.

Set off for Nancy, but 1km out of town, a sign told me that it was 82km to Nancy; I thought it was only 70Km (what’s 12km?). So, decided to go back to Sarrebourg and caught the train for €24.70 plus €10 for the bike. This will save me an extra night in a hotel before Nancy. Had a great ride on the train, only took 40 minutes (160km/h), clean, safe and staff very good. There was a place for my bike and I sat just beside it although I did have an allocated seat elsewhere.

Rode away from the station and saw a sign for a 2* hotel so went in and asked the price – €47 which is great for the centre of the city with a private ensuite – so happy with that! After settling in, I walked around the old part of the city and to the port and it is all very beautiful, especially the Place de la Stanislas. The Little Park de la Pepiniere was also beautiful but the light was failing so it was not good for photos, but took a few anyway, just to say “I was ‘ere!”