Having been told last night by lady in reception that nobody could leave the campsite between 8.15 and 14.00 we were not really expecting to do a lot today. But we checked Google maps which shows a road to the left as we go out of the campsite which is not included in the roads closed off for the cycle part of the triathlon.
I asked again at reception, different lady this time and she said yes we Can get out that way, just may have to wait a little where we meet the traffic controls.
So Smart Car raring to go now its battery is fully charged we were off. Left the triathlon cyclists to their ride around the mountains and went in the opposite direction winding out way round a few little roads until we were on the main Col road to Colmar over the mountains.
I should mention that it rained in the night, pretty hard and woke me a couple of times. By the time we got up it had stopped and the sky looked pretty nice and blue through the skylight.
as we set off. The Smart Car is not the best car for demisting in heavy rain so we had to pull in until it sorted itself out as driving round winding mountain roads in pretty torrential rain with a misted up screen is not too good an idea. Didnt see much of the scenery for half of the drive as when we got to the top of the Col it was misty as well but then the sun started to pop out again.
Back down the other side of the mountains we stopped to admire pretty Soultzeren village. Alpine at its very best and then we carried on down into the valley until we came to Munster. Decided to stop here for a visit as it looked lovely and it was. Just love the Alsace style of buildings and in Munster they are not too fairytale prettified. Stopped for lunch and rediscovered Tartes Flambes which are like pizza but ultra light base.
annual Transhumance festival. Looked the word up to translate from French but found it is also an English word meaning the movement of animals from one area to another for the change of seasons. It seems in Munster it is probably a very happy occasion with the cows wearing floral necklaces. Oh well, another time maybe.
Driving in this area is a pleasue as this is the Alsace wine route and it is always rather lovely to drive along roads lined with vineyards. The vines are currently heaving with grapes and harvesting of some has begun
On then towards Colmar detouring to drive through Soultzbach les Bains, a tiny little town with exquisite buildings and then Walbach which was pretty, but not quite as pretty and where we ended up having to deviate as the road back to the main route to Colmar was closed. We decided not to do Colmar at all this time around. Very touristy, where all the tour buses always go. We went instead to Equisheim which is one of the plus beau villages de France and well worthy of the title.
many people there today and it really is a delight to walk round. Lots and lots of photos later and then ice creams in a little caf as I failed to find the icecream shop which as it happened was right next door to the caf but I missed it !
Then back to Smart Car and a much drier drive over the mountains to the campsite. No detour needed this time as the cyclists their triathlon. Decided to do without my swim as the pool was full with families when we went past and it was getting quite late and therefore no sun so a bit chilly.
