Best of Europe bike trip continues

First off the weather has been spectacular and the riding the same. Yesterdays ride from Heidelberg (check this castle) through the Black Forest was simply amazing with more 'twistees' than I've ever been on before.

We rode through about 50 different villages and I swear it was like being in a 'fairy tale' with the beautiful Bavarian homes. We also went past several vineyards - and farms growing feed corn as well as cabbage.

It was a real test of skill as you go around those curves fairly swiftly with the rest of your crew (about 21 other bikes) about 2 to 3 seconds behind you so 'no goofs.'

And at about the half way point we stop at a beautiful lake area for a quick rest. Our two guides are amazing. Jenns (pron: Yens) speaks 'at last' 4 different languages and will use all four throughout a conversation making sure that everybody knows what the heck is going on.

Then theres Sigg (Ziegfried) who we believe is "map challenged" - either that or he HAS to take a smoke break every 45 minutes so pulls over to check a map and lights up.

We are now in a small town in Northern France called Ribeauville, which is part of the Alsace district which wine lovers surely will recognize.

We've met some great people and I'll try to highlight a bit of info about each with these updates.

Bob and Donna Torche are from Washington - and in fact "the Pentagon" - and have some really interesting stories...They bike all over the world and Donna is a total character.

Language can become an issue when you're this far into the countryside - and the look on some of the peoples faces when we try to order something in English is hilarious as they shrug their shoulders and grin.....at which time the game of Canadian charades breaks out as we point at whatever we want.

At lunch the 'special' was something we had never heard of but Donna 'jumped at it' - so the entire crew ordered this....which 'was' spectacular.

Today is a rest day but most of the guys took off again across the country side for another ride while Brian and I rested our butts, literally, in town. The BMW's are great bikes but their saddles are as thin as wafers and a 7 hour ride can be a tad painful - but as you can see in this picture - we're taking it like grown up MEN.

Tomorrow we cut back through the Black Forest and stop where the 'real' cuckoo clocks are made and for a piece of authentic Black Forest Cake. We then ride through what Jens says is some 'spectacular' Alpine mountain riding and end up in Switzerland.

Boy what a guy won't do for his Edmonton Sun Publisher!

Cheers everybody - miss you Kim, Lauren, Rayanne and the mighty Duke.