Okusimbula: Lille - Paris - Strassbourg - Basel - Cham

10.6.2022 The train to Paris leaves at 10.53 am, unfortunately it is delayed by almost half an hour during the journey, so I miss the connection in Amiens. That's annoying, the connection I booked in Paris with the TGV is also void. In Amiens, I have to wait 2 hours before I can continue my journey. At least I have time to change my booking at the SNCF travel center. Fortunately, there is still a train from Paris to Strasbourg with a bicycle parking space, but only in the evening at 7.50 pm. The journey to Paris now proceeds as planned with arrival at Paris Nord. The departure station, Gare de L'Est, is right next to it. I still have 4 hours until departure, which I use to ride through Rue Saint Denis to the center up to Les Halles. The area is quite lively. Back to Gare de L'Est on Friday evening, it's crowded. People are eagerly waiting in front of the displays until the departure platform is announced. The train departs with a delay of 20 minutes. I arrive in Strasbourg at 11 pm, there is still time for a nightcap before I go to the hotel.

11.6.2022 In the morning I explore the city with Petit France, etc. At 10.50 am the train from Strasbourg via Basel departs, between Strasbourg and Colmar it travels at 250 km/h even though it's not a TGV. In Basel, I barely catch the connecting train, I only have 4 minutes to change stations. To Lucerne and then back home.

Travel plan:

Train: Cham - Basel - Mulhouse - Montpellier

Bike: Montpellier - Bordeaux

Train: Bordeaux - Biarritz

Bike: Biarritz - Pornic

Train: Pornic - Nantes

Bike: Nantes - Vire

Train: Vire - Paris - Cherbourg

Bike: Cherbourg - Dunkirk

Train: Dunkirk - Lille - Paris - Strasbourg - Basel - Cham

Conclusion: After about 6 weeks, I am now more or less trouble-free and healthy back home after cycling about 2600 km. Trouble-free doesn't mean there were no difficulties along the way. Several times I had problems finding accommodations. Once I had to ride a longer stage, 160 km to Bordeaux. Sylvia helped me find something from home. Generally, it is more difficult to find rooms on weekends, and then there are the holidays (Ascension, Pentecost). The French trains are not always punctual, so 15 minutes transfer time could be a problem.

Weather: I think I was very lucky. In total, I needed rain protection on 3 days, once in Saint Malo and twice in the last week around Calais.

Thanks: I thank my family, especially Sylvia. Without her understanding and despite her concerns, as something can always happen, this would not have been possible.