129k, would have been more but I was bored at 40k and the sky was looking kinda angry - even rained on me a couple of times. Cheek. Once I hit the Rhine-Marne canal I couldn't think of anywhere I wanted to go so I turned west along it and found an eatery I hadn't noticed before (it's only been there for several decades, according to the owner). Once group of cyclists already installed, and a couple of other people with electric BSOs. Had an 'interesting' lunch: an Alsacien hamburger consisting to two rösti - "Swiss hash browns" according to Google - either side of a thick mince patty and topped with two fried eggs. With chips. Copious but managed to move afterwards, which felt heroic.
On west to Saverne afterwards, ~25k of almost dead flat into a freshening wind, down on the drops with heart hitting max (see above, under 'lunch') to maintain cruising speed, then turned north along the base of the hills. Funny thing about hills: they manage to flip the wind every which way. When I was following them the WNW breeze managed to flip to NE, which was aggravating, but when I moved away I finally got a bit of a push. Storks in every field where there weren't crops, it seemed - they're more numerous than ever this year; as are flies, yetch. Sun finally appeared and I even got a bit pink where I'd forgotten to put my watch on.
Stopped again at ~90k for ice cream and coffee. While I was there, three little Turkish kids went in: when they came out again the two eldest had cornets and the youngest one had a trembling lower lip. I asked why the wee fellow hadn't got one and he nearly dissolved in tears, whereupon the eldest said "not enough money" and the next down offered him a lick. I got my wallet out and offered to get him one, whereupon they all took off round the corner - parental propaganda at work re strange men. They came back five minutes later, though, and bought him one. All well.
Went home from there by the flattest route I could think of. Quite satisfying exercise but I'm getting fed up riding around here. I'm vaguely thinking of riding down Châteauroux way to see my son. It's about 800 km - could be fun and I'd actually be going somewhere new. The way my legs feels today, though, I've a bit more training to do.