It's not about the Bike.

Recently attended my first "Rando" where the local clubs put on a mountain bike rally and invite all the other clubs for a day out on a 20, 30, or 40km ride through the local countryside. Great way to see the area and meet other riders.

The start was in a small village and after signing up in the community hall, about 80 riders rode out into the surrounding hills on a combination of paved lanes, gravel road and single track. All ages and all levels made it a really fun ride, but the interesting part was when we arrived at the rest stop on a hilltop 15 kms into the ride. Along with the usual oranges, bananas and water one would find at a refreshment station, there was red wine, three types of cheese, pate, chocolate and fresh baguettes.

The first cup was just to experience the culture, the next two were for all our friends who asked us to have a glass of wine for them.

End of a great ride.

Joyeux Noel!

Merry Christmas to everyone. Just returned back to Quissac after a ten day road trip during which we visited the Essential European Christmas markets (Freiborg, Strasbourg, Mulhouse) enjoyed great German food, took in the Baden thermal baths, and celebrated Christmas with family in Holland. Here are some photos and video for you to enjoy.

All the best in the New Year!!!

The food.........

Petite France in Strasbourg. 0 degrees with mixed snow and rain.

Strasbourg pastry shop window

Freiburg night scene.

Oh, and the Beer...

Snowball fight in Munsterplatz, Freibourg.

Petite France.

Chestnuts roasting, vats of hot spiced wine, crepes being cooked ...... all the scents of a Christmas Market.

Snitzel, bratwurst........

Mulhouse Cathedral

Kali and Blaire on a two story Ferris wheel.

Lots of color along with the food and snow to get into the Christmas spirit.

Like looking at the rising sun through a stained-glass window in a church....

The German cuisine is stellar. Wild boar with a red wine sauce and a locally produced red wine....oh, and that's a slab of Krauten butter on top. It doesn't get any better. I'll go for a run in the morning... I promise.

Sacrilege!

When we first arrived in Quissac and were served red wine out of box, I was surprised that a nice wine could be treated in such a manner, given the national attitude towards wine. Over the last few months, we have learned the benifits of wine in a box vs. a bottle. Unless one is a fanatical connaisseur/connaisseuse of wine, this is a perfectly acceptable practice here in France. There are some fantastic, locally produced wines that can be bought in 3, 5, or (God forbid)10 litre boxes. The upside is that you can just put them in the fridge and indulge at any whim. The downside is that there is no reference as to quantity being consumed and we have often been surprised at how quickly we can empty a box.
I never thought that we would be buying wine in a box in France, but at 2.80 Euro per litre for a great wine.....I can deal with the moral delema.