Day 16 - Jeudi 25eme Avril 2013

From - Besancon
To - Montbeliard
Distance - 98km
Time - 7 hours
Total - 1299km

Yes I had a better breakfast, thank you! It wasn't exactly fancy meats and pastries but there was cereals, yogurts, fruit and as much bread and coffee as I wanted.

I was out in the georgeous sunshine at 8.10am. I can't express how good it is to start with the sun shining and the cool air rushing past you as you cycle along a river or canal in total peace, with no-one else in view. This is the life. I took a nice snap of the reflection of the opposite banking on he Doubs. I had a brief stop at Beame les Dames to eat a piece of my homemade Grasmere style gingerbread. I know what you are thinking about 'best before dates'. Don't worry about that, I've had it in the tin at home for up to a month and its fine, well there's been no repercussions so far! As i was unwrapping the cling film I was thinking more about what it would look like to the police if they found this substance in my possession and how I would try and convince them that it wasn't an illegal substance. Of course, they wouldn't let me eat it in an effort to prove it was food because they would think I was getting rid of the evidence. I've still got one piece left. I should probably eat it tomorrow in case I get checked at the border.

I carried on to L'Isle sur le Doubs and was pleased to find a restaurant with a menu de jour for 11 euros, that's 3 courses included. Before I ate I spoke to an English couple who were holidaying in a camper van and were out for a bike ride. He had previously done a large part of the Eurovelo 6 and was telling me about some hills coming up at Schaffhausen, he was trying to cheer me up! Not that I needed it because the day was so hot and sunny.

My meal comprised of a plate of sliced meats and cournichons (pickled gherkins), then sliced beef with mushrooms and rice and finished with my current favourite pudding, an Ille Flotante. As I was eating Phillip cycled past again. I called to him and we briefly spoke. He carried on and I caught him up after my meal.

We cycled into Montbeliard together. We went quite slow as he said he had a hangover and had fallen off his bike earlier. He spoke good English and was good company. He is a 28 year old civil engineer who lives in Paris. He once worked on attachment at the steelworks at Scunthorpe, so he's seen the best of what the UK can offer. We had a drink in Montbeliard and he had something to eat. Our conversation covered the French and British Governments and the death of Margaret Thatcher! The chances are we could keep bumping into each other. He tends to ride in the afternoon whilst I set off early in the morning.

I have been working on a translation for the town of Montbeliard and the best (most childish) thing I have come up with is 'big hard belly', well what an you expect when I have been on my own for so long! The town looks clean and nice. I haven't seen he chateau yet but will have a look this evening. I have treated myself to the Hotel d'France which is a small but grand hotel. The range of places I have been staying is quite vast. Tomorrow I'm back in hostel land at Mulhouse. It's the last place I will stay in France. I may have a rest day there as well because the weather forecast on Saturday is dire. It should be wet and 3 degrees centigrade. I might sit it out.

Photo 1, Reflection in the Doubs
Photo 2, Me and Phillip
Photo 3, A square at Montbeliard
Photos 4, 5 & 6, Hotel d'France.