Out of the door at 7:30 am into the morning rush hour, cars and bikes.  We definitely had the better way of travel and seemed to weave in and out like we knew what we were doing.  Apparently we did, as we trekked the seven miles out of town without a hitch.  Once across the Rhein we were back on the bike trail with beautiful views of farmland    lakes,

the Rhein

and the forest; birds singing everywhere.

Around 10 am, we crossed the border into France (country #3) with a sign to prove it. With a long, straight, paved road ahead, we made good time.  A few hours into our journey we were instructed to take the ferry; the ferry obviously had not gotten the instructions that we would be there……it was not running.  We continued on along the bike path.

By noon, we had reached 40 miles and were ready to take a break.  Just sandwiches today, but it was a pretty stop.

After lunch, our course strayed from the Rhein winding through an occasional cute but eerily quite town

………very few cars and NO people; but mostly along the dike base.  Though the dike blocked our view of the Rhein, the stream beside us offered us pretty white flowers. Looks like snow, which we would have liked at this point.  It had proved to be a very warm day and we had already gone through our seven water bottles.

We crossed a bridge into the huge city of Strasbourg, France (Germany still has a very small slice of the city).  Without a city map and a bit parched, we stopped for a cold drink and got some general directions to the center of town.  Still odd, the lack of people on the streets, especially for such a large city.  Concerned it was a holiday and no one was in town, we asked a couple of young girls……”No one walks in this city, there is nothing to do, we have to stay home at nights, it’s not like the streets of Paris”.  So, there you have it!

Well apparently those girls had not made it to the center of the city.  Crossing another bridge

into the center of the city     everything comes alive; except Jerry and me; we were spent.  Then we spot a magnificent church    and suddenly we have more energy.  Even better, right around the corner is this beautiful and very posh hotel where we find a room.  Jerry worked his magic, got us upgraded to a larger room that just happened to have this view But there is more.  We strolled the beautiful streets that so typify what we think of, when we think of the streets of Europe.  And then we see another church spier in the distance   …..an INCREDIBLE most magnificent cathedral, Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg.

The stained glass in this church
is the most ancient (13 & 14th century) in Christianity history.

They really do not build them like they used to.

All this tourist stuff, we needed refreshment.  Found a great little pub with good food (not as good as Germany), drink and a cute dinner companion.It’s a tough city to say good night to, but after almost 61 miles, we needed rest.