Day 14 - Baumé Les Dames to Montbéliard.

Today was a rainy day along the Doubs through beautiful mountains. It started out cold and we all met at a market for hot coffee and pastries and didn’t leave until 10. Despite the rain, we had a fun day and are in a cheap hotel for the night. 3 people per room for 50 euros. Today is supposed to be drier as we ride out of France into Basel. 

Today we rode only 40 miles. 

Day 13 - Dole to Baumé les Dames.

A rainy day through valleys along canals and the Doubs river into Besançon where we stopped for our traditional lunch of baguette sandwich and a treat from the patisserie. 

It is a beautiful town which needs more exploring someday.  We rode 63 miles much of it in rain but arrived at our campground during a dry bit. 

Rest Day in Dole!

6 riders decided to take a rest day in Dole after riding 11 days straight. After breakfast I washed the bike and headed to the center of town to meet Mike for coffee and to tour the 500 year old cathedral in the center of town.  It was a great morning to be a tourist. Afterwards we rode to a deluxe market for some shopping.

The Airbnb looks like a college dorm room. There is gear everywhere not to mention raucous laughter and loud voices! 

Day 11 - Chalon sur Saone - Dole.

Today we had a lovely 63 mile ride to Dole. We met Donna and Mark at a Patisserie on the way out of town and rode for 20 flat miles before our first Coffee stop. We left the Loire a couple of days ago and followed the Saone today. We had a picnic lunch in a peaceful park at around 1 and then afternoon coffee roadside in an other hour. 

We arrived at our Airbnb in Dole where we will take a rest day before heading east at 4:30. 

Today was our last day riding with Astrid. She has been my model from day 1. She is an experienced tourer who always seems to be a few steps ahead of everyone else. I have learned much from observing her and affectionately refer to her as “mother” in my mind. “Mother knows best”.

As of today we have logged 650 miles!

Day 10 - Montceau to Chalon.

Today Mike and I left the Airbnb feeling well rested and ready for an easy day to Chalon sur Saone. We were doing great following a route along the canal which led us away from the canal and into the surrounding mountains. We ended up adding unnecessary miles and alot of climbing😩 All that before having my second coffee and daily croissant!

We did eventually manage to find a patisserie and arrived at our campsite at 1:15. Our earliest Arrival yet.  

Day 9 - Bourbon Lancy to Montceau les Mines.

Today we had overcast skies and some rain as we pedaled along canals and countryside. We had a beautiful coffee stop in Digoin and then lunch in front of a church in Palinges along the way. 

Mike and I shared an Airbnb in Montceau. We did laundry in a parking lot and then went for pizza.