French Hospitality Splendour

Day 8
635-ish KM
Altkirch, France









Day 7, I think
km 577, I think



Hello!

We are getting closer to the Germany border and are starting to notice differences in houses and faces. Today was a nice short day, only about 45 km and we've finished early enough to finally be able to catch up on the BLOG.

We are absolutely bushed, tired, trashed, bleeding from our ears: but after finally getting ahold of Internet in our once a week hotel extravagance, we had a chance to read some of your comments and we felt like we should at least make an effort to say something before succumbing to sleep.

We are having a great trip so far! The Rotary Club came through for us again in Dole, France. We were split up into two different houses: Walter, Troy, Lucas and Heather stayed in the old, castle-like home of Andre and Annie - built and still maintained as a home from 1774!!

It was across the canal from Louis Pasteur's house, which we visited the next day (Louis invented pasteurisation!). Our hosts were very entertaining. Andre invented the first PVC Gnome and the first non-exploding gas tank (tres impressive), now used in all cars!

We were taken to the home hosting the rest of us for a large dinner at the home of Annie Number 2 and her husband, Etienne. We proceeded to have one of the longest, most elaborate meals I personally have ever had: we started with liver pate, then ham and pea rolls, wine from Andre's brother's estate and, of course, bread. Then the BBQ'd sausages were brought in, and more peas and ham, more wine, more bread. I was absolutely stuffed by this point, but no! Now comes the main course - BBQ'd pork and shredded carrots, more wine, more bread, then MORE freaking pork!

THEN? the cheese platter, BEFORE dessert, which was fruit flan and peaches and more wine.

While Walter wavered in his seat, trying to focus on anything besides his wine glass, the rest of us tried to fit more food in already packed stomachs.

The next morning after again stuffing ourselves with croissants and homemade plum jam and after visiting Louis' house, we went back to the house where the press met us for pictures and a brief interview.

That afternoon after barely a few kms of riding, we stopped for lunch at the house of a friend of Andre and Annie's, where we were treated to a giant lunch, with more wine, more bread and surprise gifts from Annie Number 2 - t-shirts, jumpers (sweaters for us Canadians) and a special box of french perfume for me. I always thought I was the best smelling of us all, but maybe the boys dropped a hint?

These host stays are incredible - we are really treated like kings (and one queen)!

Yesterday was a fantastic day of 90km of flat-ish biking along the canal. We had a lane mostly the whole way along the river and are sunburned and exhausted. For dinner, we ate frogs legs and escargots in a fancy restaurant that we even showered for.

Please keep your comments coming :) Our regrets are that we cannot get to internet as easily as we thought and are a little curious as to how that might affect our communication in some of the Eastern countries. Anyway, know that we are very happy with our progress and are happy with each other's company (so far!) and are thinking of you all :)

Bye for now...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz