Hello to all! Have just learned that mobile communication from southeastern France can be problematic, depending on location, so please don't anyone call Interpol if there is a temporary hiatus in your updates.

We're about to have a huge thunderstorm here, so I'm closing up and heading for a restaurant.

OK, better. Anyhow, it's great hearing from everyone. Just finished my 6th day in a row and feel OK, looking forward to a break in Geneve. The warm sunny weather continues, at least until now!

The last time I passed through Besancon it was in a NE direction, up the magnificent Doubs valley, one of the best bike routes I've seen in France. Now I'm heading SE and will do some climbing in the Jura over the next two days.  The hostel here is one of those affiliated ones with the main function of providing inexpensive lodging for people from the countryside who work in the city. As a rule they're kind of massive sterile places and this one is no exception, especially since the bar and restaurant are closed this weekend.