Day 19 - Seltz France - 89 kms

After yesterday's downpour it was always going to be a late start allowing our clothes to dry, our weary bodies to recover and our sense of smell to slowly return !!!

We didnt make tracks till 11 after washing and cleaning the bikes. We tried to get our brakes looked at as they'd taken a pounding in yesterdays conditions- but with the mechanic on holiday (doesn't anyone work in Europe !) wed have to rely on our size 12`s (my feet and H`s hands) for back up !

We left Speyer without a chance to look at its transport museum which gets good raves but did see its full size display jumbo as we cycled out of town

Our route took us through a number of beaut open parklands and forests not unusual as since Bingen 95% of the Rhine cycle route has been well off the Rhine.

The paths surfaces were brilliant and although though late starting we were quickly clocking up the Kms.

Another lunch in a Liddl`s car park and some expert navigating around the fringe of the busy city of Karlsrhue saw us refreshed and in high spirits as we cycled high quality paths on a mainly fine ( yes - finally !) but cool day.

Our route on left bank of the Rhine took us back into France when we crossed the border at Lauterbourg posing for a photo with the sun shining !

It wasn`t much further down the road before an international incident of global proportions occurred when i threatened to clobber an ignorant motorist who turned from the road straight across our cycle path forcing me to take quick avoidance action with limited available brakes ... the driver cowered in his car while i abused him in fluent Australian .. You Fc&%kwit ! .. even `Switzerland` offered welcome verbal support !

At the 85 km mark we were faced with either pushing on for another 30 kms or taking our chance in Steltz {France} some 4 kms off the river - we wisely chose the latter.

A romantic evening was spent with H preparing a dinner of baquette with meat, cheese, tomatoes and mushroom ... It could have quite easily fed 1/2 the population of an African nation but we both bravely made our way through it to no doubt pay later

Tommorows aim is to end within striking distance of Basle and with good weather and 1/2 decent paths it is definitely achievable !