DAY 227 - STRASBOURG TO SAVERNE: 21.7 MILES (43,400 STEPS)

6 December, 2011—Big Brother

21.7 miles (Total: 2198.7 miles)–43,400 (Total: 4,706,401 steps)

I set off from Strasbourg knowing that I had a very tough week of walking ahead—140 miles to Luxembourg. We all need a little help and mine came in the form of my big brother, David who kindly answered the call for assistance in getting my rucksack from Strasbourg to Luxembourg. We used Saarbrucken as a base on the trek as David had hired a car, which is always a huge advantage in the walk as it removes the need to find accommodation en route.

That said, my first night on the trek when I arrived in Saverne and stayed at the National Hotel and the final night of the leg when I stayed in Remich at the Hotel St Nicholas, were two of the best value stays I have had on the trip. What makes one place better than another? Answer, the people. What do I look for in a hotel or guest house along the way? Well the first requirement is wi-fi. I can manage without a bed and a shower, but on the walk I cannot survive long without wi-fi in order to update the web-site and respond to the 40-50 emails a day on the Truce campaign as it reaches a critical stage. Next I look for a buffet breakfast, I have developed camel like qualities and can store vast quantities of food from a breakfast and a good one can last me all day, saving 20 euros on snacks and lunch. I have been well tutored in the art of making up additional cheese sandwiches, bagging nuts and dried apricots, and filling my water bottle with orange juice. Finally, I am of course looking to keep it all within my 50 euro per day budget, which now I am out of Switzerland is manageable—providing you have wi-fi to search out the best deals, which brings me back to the first priority.