Schlogen to Grein au Donao, Austria
Going in to Austria we had to take a ferry to the hotel. I had on my Peace River Bike Club jersey on. A guy on the ferry says “Oh, do live near the Peace River?” There are other Peace Rivers and I said that this one is in Florida, Yes, he is a snowbird from Austria in Punta Gorda. Small world.
So many bikes, lots of humor, we stopped at 10 AM for a snack and went into the ladies room and found this poor man
Regensburg to Deggendorf through Bavaria into Austria
There was no sign to show when we passed into Austria. We were on a bike path but I wanted a photo of our 4th country. We can see all the damage that the flooding did only a few weeks ago. Our hotels generally start on the second floor because they are still cleaning out the first floors. Now are rides are primarily down the Danube veering into small towns now and then. After 2 weeks of very cold rainy weather it is now warm, hurray. Chris is from Berlin originally but now lives in Victoria so she is the translator. We ride together and have a lot of experiences because Chris doesn’t believe we have to follow the route. We ride shortcuts (not always) and yesterday decided to take the ferry for the last 20 miles of the trip.
Suffering on the ferry, we had to ride a kilometer to our hotel luckily we didn’t get a DUI ticket.
A stop at a bike museum, I finally got to sit on one of these bikes. One fall from these and it’s all over.
Ingolstadt to Regensberg
Regensberg is one of the oldest cities so far. It was the northern most outpost of the Roman Empire back in 179AD. Our hotel was built in the 14th century and has always been a hotel, yes it has been renovated but much of the original decor is here. Our ride yesterday was short, only 60 miles of lovely, but cold, weather.
Every morning as we get ready to leave down there is always a bewildered look as to which way we go. This is the start out of Ingolstad.
Then we have the gallery from the street of riders after they arrive. Chris and Randy vie for loudest yellers.
Ulm to Ingolstadt….Bavaria
Could sound like the worst ride ever but after you’re soaked you’re as wet as you’re going to get. 97 miles of solid, unending rain. Started out interesting because just as left Ulm riding along the Danube I could hear the pounding of a drum and people counting frantically. I knew that sound since I had rowed in a Dragon Boat Race and here was one on the Danube. Really fun to watch for a while, in the rain.
The most difficult thing about the rain is it’s hard to see. The majority of the day is on bike paths but when in traffic it’s tricky. There are 13 riders, 3 of which wisely chose to do the trip in the dry van. One dropped out half way and got in the van. I was in a group of 5 which is unusual for me, I usually ride alone but it was easier when we got off course (lost) to find our way back. Polo, in our group broke a spoke so he had to be picked up. So now we’re down to 8 riders when we hear that Maxwell broke his bike in half but is ok. What does this mean, I’ve never seen a bike broken in half but now I have. He was evidently turning on to a bike path and ran into one of the posts. Can’t believe he didn’t have a scratch but the bike certainly didn’t fair well. Seven riders did make the entire 97 miles. Think maybe the first three were the smartest.
Seven of us went out for dinner and celebrated
On to Ulm, Germany
I signed up for this trip without really studying the details. I know my daughter would be amazed to hear this but it is true. After signing up and finding out a lot of the trips would be on bike paths I was skeptical. I envisioned bike paths filled with ma and pa biking, kids biking and hikers, a pain to share the road. I was really wrong. France and Germany is filled with bike paths from one end to the other. We ride through pasturelands, forests and every path goes into the villages and out again.
There are interesting things to see besides the scenery. How about Escargot crossing the road or a cigarette machine in the middle of nowhere.
The most disappointing part of the trip has been the weather, it is cold. This morning it was 48 degrees, add in the wind chill factor of riding a bike plus drizzle and light rain along the way. It’s supposed to warm up in a week but this is almost July and it’s cold every day.
Basal to Donaueschingen
It was great having the day off. Chris and I went for a Thai massage which I was not looking forward to. The only other Thai massage I’ve ever had was in Thailand with Luke and Kerry. We were fully clothed and they just beat us up and turned us into pretzels. This one was really great, a regular good massage and then some bending but nothing brutal, very good. Our hotel was about 4 miles from Germany and miles from France. The Rhine runs through the city with a mighty current and the mode of transportation are bikes and trams.
We are now in Switzerland
A day off in Basel the second largest city in Switzerland. It’s been kind of a long slog to get here.
My bike’s derailer broke 5 days ago and I have been riding a smaller bike which is extremely painful. They should be able to get a new one here, if not, I’m doing the rest of the trip by van, my back and shoulders won’t take another day.
Riding from the Rhone River to the Rhine River was amazing, we went down hill for 20-30 miles all along the canal with literally lock after lock taking the boats down.
I did take lunch along the road with friends. This was a 91 mile day so we packed sandwiches to eat on the road. I ride alone so I stopped and tried to teach these guys how to eat with their mouths closed and chew quietly but it did no good.
Probably the best surprise at about 85 miles out on a bike path was this bridge which cut a farm in half. There were many horses and sheep on each side of the bridge in large pastures and a constant stream of traffic going back and forth. It was a sight to see.
We do meet up and stop for lunch once in a while
Nevers to Dole, France….2 days
This is two days because we have spent a few days traveling through Burgundy and last night after a long ride with lots of climbing we drank a lot of wine….we were in Burgundy, we had to do it but probably not until midnight. I can’ believe I got up and rode almost 80 miles today.
We stayed in Autun last night, a medievel town. Like all these towns it’s at the top of a mountain which we have to ride up after a long day.
And for dinner a starter drink
Sancerre to Nevers, France
Fairly short ride, was very excited to get here because there is a big Look store. They make a lot of things for skiing and a beautiful bike, but we are in France and they are closed on Thursdays. What stores close on Thursday, very disappointing. On my ride I passed this horse with his foot in the water trough, at first I thought it was cute but everyone saw him so I think he was hurt.
We have very interesting people on the trip. One is Chris, who I met on the Italian Expedition last year, she has done 5 Iron Men, I don’t know anyone who has done 5. Then there is Mary from Sarasota who I met on the Russia to Turkey and Italian Expedition. She is the epitome of the driven athlete. She is a personal trainer at a gym in Sarasota rides 100 miles a day. She is always the first in and sometimes like today she found a gym and spent 2 hours working out. Now about her eating habits, she doesn’t drink but loves desserts especially chocolate so tonight, as every night, she collects desserts from those silly people that don’t want dessert.
Mary and her collected desserts.
Orleans to Sancerre, France, unknown mileage
The beginning of the 84 mile ride was great, the end not so great as I didn’t finish the ride. First the nice part. I’m getting hungry about 40 miles out and see a pizza place, yum, I pull in park my bike by my table, sit down and look across the street and WOW, surprise, surprise, a beautiful castle. The pizza was superb and I know that to be true because our guide Enrico joined me and he said it was good and as he pointed out he’s Italian and should know.
Now to the downside of the beautiful day. About 45 miles out I hear a clanking noise which is not a good sound on a bike, one of my spokes has broken and wound into my gears. In all my miles of riding I have never broken a spoke. The van had to be called, cannot ride anymore, no problem, if I miss half a day out of 45 but there is a problem when the van is 1 1/2 hours away and I can see the black thunderstorm approaching. I am hobbled with my bike on the corner of a residential area and cars keep driving by and looking at me. When the storm hits, it is a doozy, a great wild Florida thunderstorm so I am sitting on the sidewalk behind a streetlight post praying lightning doesn’t strike when I notice that the street cannot take all the water flowing down it (slight slope) and now the water is coming up over the curb. Now I am sitting in 2 inches of water. Biking does have it’s down side
