Route des Crêtes (not Crète)

We became terribly aware of how bad our French language skills had become, when we found ourselves pondering about what the Greek had to do with the Route des Cretes.

Crête = Ridge or Crest          Crète = The Greek Island

It's all in the accent.

We are in the French region of Alsace, famous for good wine and rich solid food (that is if you like piles of smoked meat and cabbage...). The French here don't seem to get the point of vegan or vegetarian cuisine. So, if you are wired that way, you better bring your own food along or just for fun try discussing the 'veganization' of the menu with the waiter...

But we weren't here for the culinary experience, we wanted to explore the Vosges a bit more in detail, and the best way to do this is taking the Route des Crêtes, the mountain ridge road from Cernay to Le Bonhomme (on the left). and further to Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.

Source

The road is usually open between April and November, and closed in winter due to snowfall. 

This stretch of twisty bliss has become ever so popular with all kind of motorists, but also attacts lots of cyclists and hikers.

Most of the almost 90km (ex-military) road is built between 900m and 1,300m elevation, and offers stunning 360 degrees vistas.

Due to high density traffic, and severe accidents on weekends or holidays there have been discussions of temporary closures to motorized vehicles. 

For now the authorities introduced speed limits and put up warning signs to drive carefully (especially towards motorcyclists...).

The Col de Grand Ballon being the highest drivable point (1,325m).

And it's all downhill from there...

A little later we had a classic example of bad motorcycling. A group of three power rangers on their crotch rockets came up from behind, passed us at high speed, and we watched them speeding away imposing their dangerous maneuvers on other motorists and cyclists. A few miles later we found one of them picking up his bike, and parts of the fairing, mirrors and other bits and pieces. Instead the two-wheeler had now grass and mud for decoration... Thanks to his gear he didn't seem to be hurt, however it must have dented his ego quite a bit because he didn't even put down his helmet, probably still beet red from embarrassment... His buddies helped and he seemed ok, so we moved on.

Some old barns.

 We crossed the river Rhine...

 ...and are back in Germany.

A coffee break in Endingen am Kaiserstuhl.

The Stork Tower in Zell am Harmersbach.

And some 17th centrury Swedish cannons, not sure how they got here.

Another wonderful day came to an end, and even better... the local Greek restaurant was happy to veganize Sonja's meal.