0 km
.... Leaving Mühlhausen. Bought two more plastic boxes for to have more storage space : for the bivak tent (rather hard to set up, at least at the beginning), water (bought a big bottle, but was not enough), set for camping cooking (used just for to make coffee). tools and spare parts for the bicycles (when travelling in winter time recommended having a bike with dynamo ...)
1st day on the road
Quite easy to find the channel. Everythere signs where to go. The bike lanes have been conceived for channel maintenance. The only cars You meet are from the personnel in charge of the channel.
Rhine-Rhone Channel
Until You reach L Isle sur Doubs there are many locks to come. You have to change sometimes to the other side of the channel. There are some kilometers to drive on country roads. Where You find the locks there is always light (used to stop when I needed to look for something in my luggage). Unfortunately nowhere a place to buy something to eat or drink. No shops nearby. Fountains You fin in some villages in Alsace (The whole week found just one cabin whith a toilet).
Always straight
Sometimes getting up - and some meters down again.
Boat for channel maintenance
In those days of November, no ships were using the channel. This boat too, surrounded by leaves, lays at anchor.
28 km
... the next morning, after Mühlhausen the first deviation (Valdieu-Lutran). Must be a long time the bicycle lane is closed. I had to take a way I just did wonder where I was going to. First it went uphill. Then down again to the channel. It was half way to Montbeliard.
Back at the channel
A chilly morning.Besides the temperature I got thirsty and had drunk nearly all the water I had with me.
The bike lane
... everythere asfalted, some parked cars, many people fishing.
Montbeliard
A couple of bridges before reaching the city. At a short distance before Montbeliard a fountain. I decided to turn across the other side of the Doubs. I was hungry and thirsty and fortunately there are a lot of restaurants in Montbeliard - at some kilometers (There is a restaurant at the outskirts of Montbeliard, but the day I arrived there was holiday so it has been closed).
Obstacles
Not easy to get there across with a trailor. There are certainly ways to get food somewhere in the city.
Bridges
One of the most beautiful brides of the bike lane ...
Deviation
Dampierre-sur-le-Doubs : The bike lane was ending there (I had to uphill thru the village). Then the road goes down towards Etouvans. At the end in Colombier-Fontaine, there is a bar, and I spent some time talking to the villagers there.
L'Isle sur Doubs ...
30 km to reach this town. The bike lane is in a good shape and it does no even cross country roads.
Bed & Breakfast ...
The night before I had spent outside (month of november !). I needed shelter and I found it there. M Schmidt - about his German origins I did not care a lot - by chance the same day he had come back from holidays - I did nt have made a reservation - and he did nt hesitate to rent me a roomn. In the heating room I could dry my tent. In Isle sur Doubs there is a supermarket, the Intermarche, I could buy food and have lunch at the pension.
Info Anfangsseite
Maison au Canal
Bike-friendly place to stay.
Cleaning service
You can wash Your clothes here : At 11 o clock back on the road again.
Isle sur Doubs
A quiet city. Some kilometers on a country road. Then following the bike lane along the river.
Along the Doubs
The bike lane is at the right side. Looking in the water I can see the trees.
Trees
Country road then reaching Appenans again on the bike lane and following the river at the right side. The bike lane goes until Clerval (95 km) where You have to cross the river. At the entrance of Clerval, on the other side of the road You can find a restaurant. It is the last place where You can get food until Baume where You can find a big supermarket. Not just at the other side of the river : First across the bridge, then at a roundabout in one kilometer .
115 km - Super U (Baume-les-Dames)
Besides Montbeliard, You can find a supermarket at Isle-sur-le-Doubs and at Baume-les-Dames.
Along the Doubs ...
... towards Besancon ... there are some kilometers to make on country roads (140 km from Mühlhausen to Besancon)
165 km Thoraise
Unlike the ships who can pass through a tunnel the bicycles have to go uphill. The bikelane goes towards Oselle (170 km)- not astonishing the camping ground there is closed during the winter. Getting hungry because no food since Baume. Left the bikelane and went to a bar at Dampierre (185 km). Great lunch BUT : big deviation ! PS : ten kilometers farther ther would have been a restaurant (190 km) !)
La Saone
In Dole (210 km) could not even see a snack bar. No grocery stores either. Went on until Damparis (220 km) where I did fetch some money from the bank and bought food in the local supermarket. No bike lane until Abergement la Ronche, just traffic signs that cardriver have to be aware that bicycles might be on the road, too. A lot of traffic (had to get used to it again). Once again on the bike lane until reaching St Symphorien sur Saone. It was in the night when I did arrive at St Jean de Losne. From now on I have to follow the Saone.
Auberge de la Marine
Staying in this hotel cost me around 90 Euros (supper included). There were some rain drops. I had spent the previous night outside and wanted to be at a save place for the night.
Bike lane to Seurre
Von St Jean de Losne leaving at the right side of the Saone (km 245), then crossing the river, reaching Seurre (at a lock) once again on the left side.
Country roads
Not much traffic. Did not really know which ways to follow and just followed the information I got from my GPS.
Ancient bridge across the Saone
A fatal error moving to the other side of the river. I went on roads with much traffic and all could have been a lot easier.
Rest place at the Saone
Heading towards Chalons sur Saone (spent the night in Verdun sur le Doubs) then changed to the right side of the Saone. From now on several kilometers with nice restplaces and maybe places where You can put Your tent. In Chalons no more than a Mc Donalds restaurant and further way up a bakery (always stayed at the outskirts of the city). The same day could get until Grigny.
Towards Tournus I
Leaving the river for some kilometers. On a small country road You travel from village to village.
Towards Tournus II
Countryside with trees.
Tournus
Decided to stop in Tournus zu beenden. I have been called back for work. On the other side my knee was aching.