Tour de Grand Est -Stage 2 continues rain or shine

We couldn't find a cobblestone-free route out of Kaysersberg, so we just went with it, and found the best Boulangerie in the village. 

The village is so quaint, quiet and floral. 

Back out into the vineyards and towards the canal. 

We could see castles along the Vosges foothills. 

(there is a castle on the hill, on the left).

At this little town we had to go under the train tracks - stairs for the people and a ramp for the bikes. The locals came to cheer us on, and were very excited to see our Cdn flags. 

Quite steep! But we made it. Down and up. 

Before we reached the canal we found some shade on the steps of a church. Morning snack is why we ride. 

And then. The canal. 

We had 80 KMS to do today, so we were not unhappy that we were headed down the canal. The air was cool, the wind was mostly at our backs and their were very few cyclists. 

Canals can be boring but this one was like a bird sanctuary. So many birds singing, finch swooping and crows sounding bossy and magpies complaining. There were swans with babies and cranes and ducks.  So I was entertained. 

And then the black clouds that had been following us, caught up. Big time. 

We found shelter under a bridge. With a German couple, who did not seem to be very happy with the rain, or each other, or us, whatever it was, they were not friendly.  We just enjoyed our lunch. We don't melt in the rain. 

More canal, more rain, another bridge stop. We had the place to ourselves this time. 

We passed this cool machine. He was sweeping the bottom / dredging / cutting the weeds. It was pretty cool.  A canal lawn mower. 

As we got closer to Strasbourg the canal got more and more beautiful. Tree lined. For many kilometers. Just gorgeous trees on both sides. It was so beautiful.  

We saw a few canal boats too, mostly used for housing now, I don't think it is a very active canal. 

Bridges were definitely our friends today, and underpasses and other shelter. When the rain came down it really came down hard, and the wind whipped up, and the lightning and thunder were impressive.  We had to take shelter a half dozen times. 

But we eventually got to Strausborg, and we have a lovely loft air BNB.  Just right here, where the little red car is parked. We are on the top floor. And yes there is an elevator, but no it doesn't work 😳. 

After 81 kms, and several mms of rain, we were so happy to have a warm place to shelter, and even some comfort food to warm us up. 

Everything we brought has been washed and now has all day tomorrow to dry.  

Speaking of comfort food, we found a Creperie for dinner. Happy memories of Brittany (and similar weather ☔)

Our evening walk took us to the Cathedral. It is honestly, breathtaking. I was speechless at the site of it. 

Strasbourg Cathedral is over one thousand years old. Construction of the original, on the exact site of a Roman temple, was initiated in 1015 but later destroyed by a fire. The second wave of construction started in the 12th century, when the Gothic style of architecture had started to develop. Just to give an idea of the scale of the undertaking, it took the entire 13th century to build the nave, and the delicate spire was completed in 1439.

The sheer size of the structure is overwhelming, and the incredible number of and details in each carved piece is astounding. 

Hard to capture, but also hard to stop taking photos. 

We will see more tomorrow as we give our bikes a day off, we plan to explore Strausborg on foot. 

Good night from Strausborg.