UK-France-Germany in a day - now on the SAAR Canal

No, we haven't been sucked into the English Channel... We have been without wi-fi for a couple of days.

So, Sunday 26 May, we rose early at 3.45 a.m. (Yes, a.m.!) and drove the car into Kathryn's place in Oxford, dropping me on the way at the bus station with the bags. It was freeeeezing - 5 deg C. 

By the time My Friend walked in from Kathryn's, my feet were nearly frozen off. I didn't dare move away from our bags - there were a number of unsavoury types that I was surprised weren't tucked up somewhere warmer. Anyway, the bus trip into London took the advertised 100 mins and we got out at Marble Arch and plodded past those less fortunate who spend the night on the streets (there seems to be a number of them - and it is sooooooo cold!).

The check-in to the Eurostar is much like an airline one - and this one was very efficient (and unlike a lot of the customer service in the UK) friendly and helpful as well! 

The train left on time at 08:19 an d the trip across The Channel to Paris was straightforward apart from my "losing" my purse which had my Euros - only to find it under the feet of the passenger across the aisle ???? Thank goodness I thought to check for it...

Things continued to proceed as planned - this was after all a BIG day of travel and one would expect something to not go right. We managed to navigate our way around The Yellow Ticket Machine at the station Gare de l'Est in Paris and successfully printed out all the tickets for the 3 of the 4 trains we had take to Saarburg in Germany.

We even celebrated with the time left over by having a drink in the square outside the station (and the sun was shining!!) while we waited the hour for the first train to arrive, which it did so on time, depositing us at Metz-Ville just over 2 hours later. 

We then had another trip to Forbach, which left 20 mins LATE but fortunately they kept the next train waiting until we arrived so we made our transfer to Saarbrucken. 

I must have known luck would run out as I hadn't pre-purchased the ticket for the last leg to Saarburg. Indeed, the train arrived in late because of the one that had left Metz late, so I bought the tickets for the next train and we finally got in to Saarburg by about 6:30 p.m. (having lost an hour when we entered France).

By now, the weather was truly miserable (again!) and we were pleased to get into our hotel and shower off the journeys of the day. 

We had a lovely meal at the biergarten at the hotel and wondered about cycling in the rain tomorrow...

Monday 27 May

The day is fine! That is, it is not raining. We were up early and walked into the attractive old town with its waterwheels and waterfall. The town also has an old castle on the top of the hill overlooking it - it is one of the oldest mountain castles in western Germany (964 - that's old!).

On our way back to breakfast, we went via the station to check out what was involved in buying train tickets from the machine. 

A quick breakfast and then onto the 8:33 a.m. train to Trier to be there at the 9 a.m. opening of the Radstation so we could get our rental bikes and start our riding A.S.A.P., as we had a long way to go today. 

This all went well but we missed the 10 a.m. train back to Saarburg which we sort of expected would happen so we spent the time making sure things were "ship-shape" with the bikes and finally were underway by the time the 11 a.m. train arrived;  by 11:30 we were back at Saarburg and on the bike trail to start the lonnnng trip to Saarbrucken along the Saar Canal (have you noticed everything is called "Saar"?).

Well, what a day! We have arrived at Saarbrucken after about 70-80 kms of riding (not a brilliant idea to ride that far on Day 1, given we have been off the bike for a month now - I definitely fell down in the planning department with that one).

The day was sunny, even hot at times; the trail for the most part was well-marked; we had some dirt (and muddy) tracks - the bikes are now FILTHY; there were lovely woods, a huge meander, long stretches with just the canal and grassy verges, and some wetlands with lots of birds. There were heaps of riders (especially in the afternoon); and we stopped a Mettlach (home to Villeroy & Bosch).

We also passed by the fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site: the Völklingen Ironworks. (Note to self: must come back here one day!)

My butt is sooooo sore - I think I need Compeed blister pads (except that there wouldn't be any big enough - ha! ha! just thought I'd get in first!). Oh for some paw paw ointment! And my legs and feet are tired and sore.

We have just had a nice dinner at a pub and are off to bed. Saarbrucken is a pretty town - what we've seen of it. Will have to see what the morning brings ...

Tuesday 28 May - wedding anniversary

We are in such a lovely hotel here in Saarbrucken - have indulged ourselves this morning with a small sleep-in, a nice chat with Dave back home on Facetime, lovely long shower, more paw paw ointment, and now a nice slow breakfast.

Our room is a terrible mess - you wouldn't believe it. We were soooo tired when we got in last night, we just reefed everything out of our panniers in the search for everything from clean undies to Panadol to paw paw ointment.

We have investigated the idea of taking the train to Sarreguemines which will cut off 20 kms I think from today's ride (otherwise another long ride which I think my butt won't stand for) and this will allow us more time to explore Saarbrucken before we go.

Seems like a good idea to me.

When we get to Sarreguemines we will ride along the canal until we meet up with Erika and Knud to spend 3 nights with them on their barge. Possibly no wi-fi until after that unless My Friend buys a card.

........

Yes, nice morning. Walked to the Castle which is very old but it has been destroyed many times and rebuilt. Nice views over the city.

Will pack now and leave on next train to Sarreguemines (meaning "confluence into the Saar") to meet up with Erika and Knud along the canal somewhere - and then we will be back into France.

So pleased in fact to be on the Continent. There is something just unfussed c.f. the UK; and in Germany particularly: so stolid - it's quite reassuring: solid buildings, solid bridges, solid people; let's face it: solid currency and business (no wonder they are about the only country left standing in the EU!).