Friday, September 18

From	To	Distance (km)	Average Speed (km/hr)	Max Speed (km/hr)	Odometer (km)	Riding Time (hr:min:sec)	Push-Ups
Illzach, France		11.73	16.6	41.7	625	0:42:23	210

(458 words)

Today Matt and I opted not to attempt an approximately 50 km bike tour (without luggage) through the Vosges Mountains. We decided against this day trip in part because we were concerned about getting back in time for dinner, but primarily because of laziness. Rather than filling us with renewed energy, our previous day of sitting around Valérie's apartment made us feel drowsy.

Matt and I did manage to get our bikes out of storage in the morning and ride to the bank, where we got some local currency, and to a grocery store, where we bought ingredients for lunch. While Valérie was still at work, Matt and I prepared an American brunch of omelettes with cheese, ham, mushrooms, and green peppers, with some hash browns on the side. Valérie seemed to enjoy the concept of coming home for a lunch prepared by two guys.

In the afternoon Matt and I once again summoned enough energy to get back on our bikes, this time to ride over to Valérie's school. We watched as Valérie kept an eye on about 75 three and four year-olds during their recess. It was basically random chaos all over the place. Kids certainly don't need to be taught how to enjoy themselves. Playing is instinctive the world over. Likewise, the overall sound generated by that many little ones at play seems the same no matter what language they are learning from their mothers. After observing a frenzy of running, skipping, biking, scootering, jumping, climbing, falling, hoppity-hopping, ball throwing, ball stealing, crying, laughing, hugging, and all-around fun having on the part of the three and four year-olds, Matt and I rode our bikes back to the relative tranquility of Valérie's apartment.

In the evening Valérie, Matt, and I met two other teacher-friends from Rothenburg, Elisabeth and Clarisse, at an Italian restaurant in Mulhouse. The five of us had a nice time reminiscing about our days in Rothenburg and catching up on the latest news. We all agreed that it felt like we were once again in Rothenburg, perhaps eating at one of our favorite hang-outs there, the Pizzeria Roma. I noted that Clarisse and Elisabeth had the same mannerisms and facial expressions as they had one year before, and that they even wore similar hairstyles and some of the same clothes and jewelry as they had in Rothenburg. The only minor differences were that Clarisse was now wearing glasses and Elisabeth was now six months pregnant. Elisabeth is expecting for the first time, a little girl due in December.

After saying our adieu's outside the restaurant, Valérie drove Matt and I back to her apartment, where I once again spent the night in a sleeping bag on the living room floor of Valérie's apartment.