Stage 2 is now complete. I have crossed France and, although only the one country, I have a real sense of accomplishment and progress. I think for me this stage will be remembered for the weather, the wind and the wheel. The weather, although never as bad as forecast, has never been as good as I had hoped and there have been a couple of cold and wet days. The wind has been present on most days and as for the wheel, no explanation required.
Another abiding memory will be the canals. They have been ever present and I have cycled along four during this stage: the Loire Canal, the Nivernais Canal, the Canal du Centre and the Rhône-Rhine Canal. While the routes have been flat and the paths smooth they have lacked the variety of the rivers, in particular the Saône and the Doubs, both highlights of Stage 2 for me.
I am now setting out on Stage 3 which takes me from Basel in Switzerland and into Germany. This Stage follows the Rhine until Lake Konstanz and into the Black Forest, where apparently I will pass through vineyards and sunflower fields. I then join the Danube, the longest river in Europe, and follow it as far as Ulm where Stage 3 ends. Ulm is the birthplace of Albert Einstein and also home to world's highest church steeple.
If all goes well I should be at Ulm within four days.
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