September 27, 2018 Metz to Sarrebourg (Saint Ulrich)

Today the ride was 90.5 kms with 918 m climb.  Ken, Juerg, and I set off together.  There were a lot of twists and turns getting out of Metz.  The first part of the route took us past some 17^th - 18th century fortifications which had been built along a gorge. They now had a bike path built along them and while it was very interesting there were a lot of twists and turns and following the route was a huge challenge.  

After we passed the ancient fortifications we rode down a lot of busy streets which fortunately all had bike lanes.  However there were still a lot of turns and traffic circles to contend with.

When we finally cleared the city it was into the hills and while none of them were over 6% there were a lot of 5-10 km climbs that really got your attention.  Fortunately the wind was not a factor and the morning was cool so the climbs went pretty well. The roads were all through large fields with almost zero traffic.   We were motoring along and before we knew it, it was lunch time so we found a grocery store and pulled in for a sandwich.  We hadn’t been there more than 20 minutes and Earnie rode past.  We called to him but he never stopped. 

We made one stop at the Cutting Cemetery which has over 900 soldiers who were killed in one of the first battles of the war.  These men were all killed in Aug 1914 in one day.  An early prelude to the horror of the next four years.

It wasn’t long after that when we got a call that the van had a flat and that Agnes and the ladies were lost.  They had no idea on how to get the spare out from under the van and what should be done.  I said that this is a Eurocar problem we have roadside assistance and call them.  Betsy walked up and knocked on a door of a house and got a local man to come out and help them.  He worked on the tire for over two hours.  Used tools from his garage and by talking to Eurocar on the phone they were able to figure out how to lower the spare from under the van (it is a really complicated winch system hidden under the rear floor mat).  He got the tire changed and the van was back on the road. 

Ken, Juerg and I stopped about 4kms from the convent where we were staying waiting on a call from the van saying they were mobile.  Across the street was a garage and Ken went and talked to the owner and got his card. 

When we got to the convent the van had arrived and everyone was upset and in a state.  I got ken and Juerg to come with me and we went back to the garage which Ken had spotted.  Using Juerg’s French language skills we learned that the tire could not be repaired.  The owner made some calls and told us that a friend of a friend had a pair of new tires for the van and he could put them on in two hours for 301 euros.  As we had been quoted 291 in a Speedy back in Calais for new rear tires this sounded like a deal (The tires on this van are well past the wear bars).  We said yes lets go and he bolted off in his truck and was back in a few minutes with the new tires.  Forty minutes later the problem was solved and we were on the road with new front tires. 

Everyone was happy that the problem was solved.  We were all too exhausted to drive into Sarrebroug for supper but there was a restaurant down the road from the convent so we walked down there for supper.  While a little pricey the food was fabulous and everyone felt a lot better.

The convent where were staying was built in the early 1800’s and was used for many years.  Now it is operated by the church for groups to use a retreat. While the rooms were Spartan it was a very cool place.  It was so quiet and we all needed a little more of that.  I was so exhausted from the big day and the trauma with the van I couldn’t even write the blog. 

Terry