Day 21 Mulhouse- Bad Säckingen 80 km 1360 km from start.

After 17 days of pedalling 1320 km across France, we finally crossed the Rhine into another country.

The first 30 km from Mulhouse was uninspiring: following a large canal on straight paths.

The highlight of the morning was crossing this canal on a modern pedestrian/ cycle bridge

We arrived in Basel, then crossed this bridge to cycle into Germany, for a few hundred metres, before crossing the border into Switzerland.

These electric bikes are really amazing!!

That was three countries in 3 minutes; even ambitious American tourists would struggle to do European countries that fast !

Heading south from the beach bar, alongside colourful railway carriages.

After these lovely views, the cycle route became unpleasant. We had to cross a 6 lane busy road with a cycle lane painted on the road in the middle of the traffic. It was only really uncomfortable for about 15 minutes, but it seemed like an age to Sue, who was ready to give up at this point and walk!

We’d booked accommodation in Bad Säckingen, across the river in Germany. (Cheaper than Switzerland and the people are more friendly!!) Its name didn’t appeal when I booked it, but it was a lovely little place in reality.

This was the fabulous old footbridge, (cycles permitted ) to cross the border and get to the town of Bad Säckingen.

The ride to our guest house was easy, but getting to our room, a nightmare.

We arrived, tired as usual, and needing someone to take over, greet us and get us to our room for a much needed cup of tea,

As the reception was void of life, I found a member of staff in the restaurant, preparing for supper and he explained that we would have to check in online. Apparently, the latest labour saving system that hotels are using😡😡

Thankfully he showed us where the key for the bike garage was before getting back to his work in the kitchen. I then proceeded to self check in on the phone.

My phone also had had a busy day, steering us through 3 countries and taking lots of photos, so it was tired and running on empty tanks as well.

I had to google translate the email, in order to understand it. Then when I finally found the tiny blue check in link, in the middle of a long comprehensive message; the phone died🤬🤬

Next mission was to find an unlocked room with a socket to get the phone working. Luckily a room was set up for a wedding so I snuck in and plugged it in. 5 mins later I was filling in all sorts of questions, passports, full names of guest etc etc, 10 minutes later I received an email giving us our room number and code to get in😃👍🏼.

This is all in the name of progress!! 45 minutes to check in!!

Sorry for the long rant, but I am getting concerned that humans are now unable to survive without a computer attached to them. Next phase, we won’t be able to do things until our computers give us consent🤔. Scary, computers are taking over. Rant over!

Our room was lovely and an hour after we arrived, the heavens opened and it rained most of the night. Good job there was a restaurant on site.I enjoyed a delicious slow cooked beef cheeks and gravy and Sue had an equally good steak and pepper sauce, decorated with a carnation.