<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A very outstanding and challenging ride.<span> </span>Helen chose roads north of D417 (with the exception of the two kilometers on D417 just before the Col </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">de la Schluchts</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">) that were outstanding and had little, or reasonably little, traffic.<span> </span>The climbing was long and steep and some of the downhills lasted forever.<span> </span>We went by several ski stations, some with nice accommodations and chair lifts.<span> </span>At one there were mountain bike riders using the ski lift, after which they presumably hit trails down the steep mountain sides.<span> </span>Seemed to us to be cheating not to be riding back up.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">During the day, we started at about 750 M from the Auberge du Lac, climbed several times to a range of 1100 to 1300+ M, and then descended to Houssen at maybe 200 M.<span> </span>As we approached Houssen, we went through some quite pretty vineyards.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Col de la Schluchts was one of those featured in this year’s Le Tour de France.<span> </span>As our hotel of the past three nights directly faced D417, the peleton had ridden right by.<span> </span>We also saw painting on one of our climbs today encouraging the Schleckt brothers.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We often saw people just off the road picking something.<span> </span>Finally seeing a couple in cycling outfits who’d laid their bikes by the side of the road, I stopped and asked in French what they were eating.<span> </span>Hearing them discuss how to answer in German, I asked the same question in German.<span> </span>Hearing my German, they asked if I spoke English.<span> </span>Such an insult…which I’ll get over…maybe…<span> </span>I learned that they were picking and eating “heidelbeeren”, a specialty of the region.<span> </span>At the hotel, I checked the dictionary and found that these are huckleberries.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">During the day, we passed from the Vosges Department within the Lorraine Region to the Haut-Rhin Department in the Alsace Region.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Route:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">D417 West from Auberge du Lac to</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">D23 Northeast past Col du Surcaneux (810 M) to</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">D23H South to Le Collet</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">D417 Northeast to Col de la Schluchts (1139 M)</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">D61/D148 northeast to Col du Calvaire (1134 M)</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">D48II East to Orbey</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">D11 Southeast to La Place (768 M)</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">D11<sup>1</sup> Northeast through Labaroche to and through Ammerschwihr to</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">D1B/D4<sup>1</sup>/D4 East to Houssan</span>
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My wife and I have been doing self-supported tours in Western Europe (a majority in France) since 1993. This series of rides covers our 2009 4.5 month route through parts of France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and then back to France. Our beginning and ending point is near Chadurie (south of Angouleme) where our friends have a farm with Gites and Chambres d'Hotes.
We rode our Dawes touring bicycles purchased in 1993 heavily loaded with 700Cx32 tires. All of our riding was on paved roads, mostly with very little traffic. Pretty much the only unpaved sections were some bicycle paths in Germany and Austria. Sadly, that wasn't so great as Helen fell a number of times on the unpaved paths. Fortunately, though, no serious injury.
If any questions, feel free to email me at jeffkadet@netdiving.com
Jeff
