2009 Euro Tour -- Ride Day 28 — 27 July 2009 — 88140 Contrexéville to 88000 Epinal

<div style="color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Due to the horrible weather forecast for this afternoon (thunder and lightning), we planned a short ride and then took a longer zig-zag route.<span> </span>The morning was beautiful, but almost on cue in the early afternoon, clouds started to gather and we eventually heard some thunder and felt a few drops.<span> </span>Fortunately it passed and we ended our ride dry after finding the Etap a little east of Centreville.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Generally great roads.<span> </span>We rode through the Centrevilles of both Vittel (source of spring water we believe) and Epinal.<span> </span>Neither was too great, and we especially didn’t see anything in Epinal to warrant the four flowers on the sign we passed upon entering the city.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">During the day, we stayed wholly within the Vosges Department in the Lorraine Region.</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <div class="MsoNormal"></div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div> </div> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal">Background:<span style="font-family: Arial;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div> </span></div>

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 <div><br /></div> </div>