The next stage of the adventure!

Today, after a 45 minute 3 mile climb and a 10 minute 3 mile descent, I left the Swiss Jura behind and started to head for the Vosges Mountains in France. I'm currently somewhere in between at a very tranquil campsite on the outskirts of Joncherey, France. This is the start of my ride north to Calais over the next 2 weeks.

It was a lovely way to say goodbye to Switzerland, pedalling easily in the warm sunshine along country lanes passing through endless pretty villages (no shops as usual). I happily re-entered France, land of campsites and the pain au chocolat!! The drivers are much better around cyclists here. They drive so fast in Switzerland, even though they give cyclists plenty of room. It's still a little nerve-wracking.

I arrived at the campsite much to my surprise at lunchtime. It's amazing how you can mile-munch when the Alps or the Jura mountains don't get in the way! I pitched the tent, sorted out the paperwork with the owner and asked where the nearest shop was, happy to cycle a few kilometres as I'd plenty left in the tank. Madame, it is Sunday in France, everything is ferme....oh dear. Fortunately, I'd bought bread, cheese and tomatoes for lunch today yesterday but I had nothing for dinner. The guy instantly said there is a pizza restaurant open in a nearby town which does takeaway and he'll go and pick it up in his car! How incredibly, fabulously wonderful! I'm so very, very happy. My order is in - a BIG veggie pizza and a green salad. Yum yum!!

I hope the good weather stays with me as I travel northwards. I don't think I've time to pedal all the way to Calais now so a train is likely to be involved somewhere (probably when it rains!).

After tomorrow, my map runs out so I hope to be able to buy some, assuming I can find some shops, or get some local ones at tourist offices. It could be an interesting journey, perhaps using the sun as my guide otherwise!


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