Day 18 - Storm, What Storm?

Wednesday 16th September 2015

 We have a fair way to ride today if we are to get to our chosen destination of Luxembourg. From the Morvan Park we travel on country roads for the first 30km and then pick the toll autoroute near Dijon.

it is a fast ride from here, straight up the A31. The toll ends at Nancy, It costs €8.10 for around 200km. The weather is improving as we go but the wind is very strong. Fortunately it is from the south, pushing us on our way.
Waterproofs on as we prepare to leave

From Nancy we continue up the A31 through Metz and on to Luxembourg. Traffic is heavy on this section as we enter the industrialised Alsace-Lorraine region.

Tomtom chooses to take us through the centre of Luxembourg city. Big mistake. It is 5pm and everyone is going home. And then huge raindrops start to splat down on us as thunderclouds gather and lightning flickers. We stop to put on the waterproofs again and carry on.

A section of motorway takes us up over an exposed hilltop on the road to Ettelbruck and we experience weather conditions the like of which I have never ever ridden in before. The wind is near hurricane strength and comes close to pushing the bike off the road. The rain comes down so hard it is bouncing a metre off the tarmac. It is incredible.

Thankfully the Luxembourgeous drivers are courteous and part like the Red Sea as we wobble up the centre line. Stupendous stuff. We are laughing with relief when we drop off the hilltop and stop to catch our breath in Ettelbruck.
Arriving at the Hotel Huberty in Kautenbach

The river in Kautenbach is in full flood
We had planned to camp at a favourite place of ours, the High Chapparal, a biker hangout with camping, great spare ribs and Hefeweizen ales. However the weather is screaming HOTEL and the decision is taken out of our hands when we arrive and find that the place is closed. Big Ed is away on his holidays. If you are reading this Ed, we'll see you next year.
A warming schnapps in the bar at Hotel Huberty

So we remember a coffee stop from last year where the owner chatted about bikes and beer and kindly gave us a couple of bottles of German ale to take with us on our travels, from a sample that he was considering stocking in his bar.

Would you believe it the Gesloten sign is hanging on the door of the Hotel Huberty but owner Rudi spots us from the roofline where he is busy with some restoration and building work.

 'What do you want?',

'A bed for the night'.

'No problem, I come down'.
Rudi and Birdy, our hosts at the Hotel Huberty

 And so we are sorted for the night and are soon enjoying the splendid hospitality provided by Rudi and Birdy at the Hotel Huberty in Kautenbach.

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