Mating Frogs - Part 2

We are woken once again by the sound of mating frogs, although this time of a different variety. It also seems to last for several hours. Simon thinks it is a TV Porn channel, I am not convinced but think she is one hell of a lucky woman! There are no likely culprits at breakfast but it is 7 am and probably too early for them. We leave Montbeliard in the drizzle and have to shelter from several heavy showers. Our route today follows the canal and the River Doubs which carves a winding path through flat plains and steep sided gorges reminiscent of the dwindling Danube. We see hundreds of herons and even a beaver swimming across the water. The weather improves intermittently and we picnic by the river in the sunshine. After 60 miles I am interested to reach Besancon which I visited 36 years ago for an unhappy and silent week feeling very homesick on a French Exchange. I find that nothing looks familiar. We get the last room in a pleasant hotel on the edge of the old town which turns out to be a rustic apartment. We wander the streets admiring the now very French architecture with tall shuttered town houses and an impressive Citadel. Victor Hugo was born here in 1802. We shelter from torrential rain again, taking refuge with a beer. (Monbeliard to Besancon - 60.5 miles)