I left this morning and back tracked to where I had seen a map yesterday. I was hoping I could find a way to get past Basel without going through it. I couldn't. There was an Australian couple from the Sunshine Coast also checking the map so I chatted with them for a while. They are starting a trip that is virtually the reverse of mine, except without the bits where I cheated on a train.
They're going all the way to Nantes then heading to St Malo, just along from Mont St Michel, then along the coast to Calais. Then Dover to London. I keep thinking that it sounds like a great trip, then remember that I know that it is! I gave them the maps that were given to me by Jeff back around Gien. I like the thought that those maps will continue the journey and hopefully be passed off to someone else heading back this way.
I also have a guidebook in pdf I could have emailed them that would be pretty useful. They wrote down the blog address and I'm trying to allay the guilt that I've included no useful information. So if you're reading leave a comment and I'll email the guide!
I went through Basel and when I crossed from Germany to Switzerland I saw a big queue at a little office window on the side of the road. Everyone had those green computer print outs. I met a bloke down the road who was originally from Cambridge Heath in London, where I work, so I asked him what they are.
Because everything is cheaper in Germany, the Swiss cross the border to do their shopping. The German VAT or GST is 19% while Swiss is only 7% so they get those green bits of paper stamped at the supermarket and when they cross back they go to that little office and get the difference refunded. This greatly annoyed the bloke telling me because the German supermarkets are always packed with Swiss people getting green computer paper stamped.
That man, I don't think he said his name, showed me the quick way to get where I am now so we rode together for about 15 or 20km. I was only in Switzerland for maybe 20 minutes before it became Germany again. Now the border is ze Rhine. I'm fairly sure the EV6 must be on the Swiss side.
Ze Rhine is a very pretty river. The water is emerald green and very inviting. I thought there was an enormous toxic spill some years ago in ze Rhine so I'll check before I go swimming.
I'm at a place called Murg. I'm still not 100% well so when it started to sprinkle I thought I'd pack it in for the day. My tent seems to be more waterproof than the last one even if it is ridiculous to put up and take down. I'm camped on the bank of ze Rhine at this really strange camp ground. I rode past it at first because I thought it was a tent shop. I'll take a photo and you can be the judge of whether I'm stupid. It's a bit like thinking a hospital is an ambulance shop.
Photos are:
An orchestra I heard playing so went and listened. The big building was across from the orchestra.
The river
The tent shop. My tent is that blue one.
If anyone wants to give me money go here:
http://www.gofundme.com/rk3brs7s
I'll distribute it to refugees/keep it.
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