Day 16: Mulhouse to Neuf-Brisach (rather than Colmar)

Dave called before they took off Sunday morning and shared a little bit more about their adventures. One of the constant challenges seems to be locating the maps needed for the routes. It is difficult to find the specific detailed maps that are needed as they approach a new area and it is only once they are well into the route that they are actually able to find the proper maps.... so there is a fair amount of wandering getting into and out of towns. The tourist office signs also are problematic. Sometimes signs send them off in the wrong direction. Dave said one afternoon they arrived at a tourist office at 5:55 to look for help finding a hotel --- the sign on the door said they were open until 6 pm...but the office was already closed. On the other hand, one kind tourist office clerk stayed open for them during her lunch hour... 12 pm-2 pm to help them locate the information they needed.
Hotel In Mulhouse --- there was no place to put their bike so they left them in the hotel lobby

Sunday night: Neuf-Brisach, France

The Fortress of Neuf-Brisach, France

Email from Dave:
This is where we are Sunday night. We were planning on going to Colmar, but by the time we figured out where we were this looked like a good option. We found a small hotel where the woman at the desk said they could do our laundry ( much needed-- Washing out bike clothes in the sink only goes so far) so we decided to stay. This was to have been a rest day but we decided to ride about 35 miles in the morning since we spent half a day on the train yesterday. Tomorrow we will ride to Strasbourg. We have another week to go, but it looks like we will have to do some by train since we are only able to ride about 50 miles a day
Sent from my iPhone

Dave called and added a little more to the day's adventures.... Dinner was a small hotel in Neuf-Brisach with great food and amazing rhubarb pie. ( see photos below) The chef was a biker and helped the guys plan their route for Monday as they head towards Strasbourg on the border with Germany.

Dave: We found the only restaurant open in town and it was wonderful. We are almost in Germany so the delicate sauces are left behind for large slabs of ham and sausage on sauerkraut.
The light was a bit difficult for a cell phone camera, but here we are having a great meal.

Greg with one piece of rhubarb pie!!
And also Joe... that was one impressive pie!!

Lynne