2nd day

9.2. Actually made coffee at 3.30 and around 4 o'clock maps sent me on rural roads towards Colmar. Then the highway and that was good. Almost 3 hours through the first mountain range for today - the Vosges. Of course, pitch dark, snow and 1 degree. But not much traffic, the highways are in top condition and I only have to deal with the trucks and my 78 horsepower. Incredibly beautiful sunrise and pure sunshine until tonight. After the Vosges and just before Dijon, the first stop. Bad coffee, good restrooms, burnt croissant. But bought great mustard and not from Maille.

Then the navigation system wanted to go to the countryside. The area around Riom, by the way, the twin town of Nördlingen, reminds me of the Allgäu region, with snow-covered mountains in the background.

And there they were, on the meadows, the white Charolais cattle. The pride of France. Not available in our country.

Then I spent 50 liters of diesel on the bus, at a price of 92 euros. Even Augustiner is not that outrageous.

Hardly refuelled, the navigation system wanted to go on the highway and up to the snow-covered mountains. It felt like an hour of struggle uphill, with all the trucks annoyed because I really struggle uphill. The mentioned mountain range reaches up to 1000 meters and it doesn't stop. France should actually be called the mountainous country.

Stopped at the summit for a snack and when it finally went downhill towards the Atlantic, I treated myself to a road beer after 800 km.

It got warmer downhill. I'm now just before Bordeaux and my outside thermometer shows 23 degrees.

I treated myself to an Ibis hotel for tonight, but I still had dinner in the bus. Homemade roulades, taken frozen and thawed slowly in the onboard refrigerator. With Zabler's wedding noodles. Even the Charolais cattle would be amazed.

Good night.