Stage 8 The middle of nowhere (French/German border)

Today's route 97 miles, 

Mordorf-les-Bains. -> Hellimer

Ascend: 915metres, Descend 857metres

See here: note the detour at the end

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=611390

The day begun later than usual, as we were all a little hungover from last nights celebration. We said our goodbyes to Mike who set off for Luxembourg airport and readied ourselves for a long ride of 93 miles along the German / French border.  

After about 10 miles, both Graham and I started to feel good again. Smiles all round as we entered Germany across the River Morsel. 

Half way across the bridge we bumped into what seemed to be the German National Segway team. Dear oh dear. 

We rode along the riverside paths for a large majority of the mornings 55 miles before we met Dominique, at our next rendezvous point in Saarbrucken for lunch/bike checks etc. Saarbrucken has a beautiful cathedral. Here's Dom and I outside it:- 

Missing my children very much today - Max, Evelyn and Cecilia, I used the more relaxing riverside cycling conditions to make a long phone call home and managed to catch up with all three of them. :-)

After lunch, we still had another q38 miles still to go.  Dominique drove ahead to book a hotel.   The news soon came back that there was nothing to be found for love nor money in the 25 sq mile target ending zone.  

Come to think of it, Graham and I had been cycling for over an hour and hadn't seen anyone, just wildlife and ghost towns. 

We were having to resort to all sorts of funky routes too. 

We all came to the conclusion that we were officially in the Middle of Nowhere. Worse, it was getting late, we had resorted to using the lights on our bikes as darkness descended. Dominique was also now beginning to sound rather concerned on the phone up ahead in the support car. 

Fortunately at this point, due to necessity no doubt, I discovered how to work the hotel finder app on my garmin navigator. It looked as if there was a hotel 10 miles west of our originally intended destination point. We called it, and they had room.  Thank goodness.  

Happy days as we arrived ( practically in the dark), time for a quick dinner and a bottle of wine before collapsing into bed where I now reside typing this. 

It was worth all the effort, as we now only have 60 miles to Strasbourg tomorrow , so a smooth changeover is on the cards! Dominique and Graham need to get 3:45 trains back to Paris for their connection to London.

So we can't be late into Strasbourg!

That's the theory anyway. :-)

Until tomorrow.  Need to sleep now. 

Brett x