We reached Strasbourg after 90km on flat terrain along the Rhine. We had quite a bit of shade alongside the river for the first part of the ride. Unfortunately a bit in the sun later on. The river is very wide and slow flowing here. We still see a lot of swans – and enjoy seeing them putting their heads down and bottoms up as they explore the river floor.

The heat was slightly reduced from previous days but still in the high 30’s. We managed our ride by starting early, drinking lots of water and regularly stopping to wet our clothing – including in the river and in village water fountains.

The back wheel of my bike began to clack again, particularly as we rode into the outskirts of Strasbourg. We went to Decathlon in the late afternoon and they replaced the back wheel under warranty without much discussion! So now I have a new back and front wheel, practically a new bike – it looks like it should last for the rest of the trip. Not so sure about Kris’s bike though.

The accommodation we found is cheap and small, but has fridge and stove. So we spent it up buying steak and vegetables to cook in the frypan. We also bought some Pastis, a great drink in the heat – that must be served cold.