Munich

Our last day in Germany. We first went to the hospital where Debbie was born. Then to the BMW museum and lunch.  So many neat cars, motorcycles, and engines. I wanted them all in my garage.  Back to the old city and the Rathaus with the glockenspiel.  Waited for the top of the hour, but it did not play for us. A few blocks over and around some corners to the Hofbrau haus we went.  The brass band there was truly fantastic. The obligatory bier Stein purchase and back through the English Garden to the hotel.  Lots of subways, trams and walks.

Bikes are packed

We were tired after a long day of riding yesterday, and decided to pack the bikes this morning. 
Now we have to walk to the train station, pulling the cases across the cobblestone streets.

Map 55

We made it.  A total of 457.23 miles in 10 days.  Today, the ride into Passau was 60.56 miles. Reward is a 6th floor suite overlooking the Danube.

Wonderful people

On the approach to Straubing, on the Donau radweg, a woman stops and asks us if we are stopping in town to sleep.  Yes, that is our destination.  She offers us a room on the edge of town at her pension.  We accept.  A few hours later we arrive at her house.   A large private suite is ours with a cold beer on the patio.
We enjoy dinner at a local restaurant several blocks away.  Here, two of the tables have men playing cards.  At another table, folks are enjoying a lively discussion followed by a meal.
I feast on muncher schnitzel and Debbie learns the German word for ribeye.

Bike Friday convention

When riding a major bike route, you get to see many other cyclists.  They seem to be around you at all times. We ran across a Scottish/French couple, a Canadian couple on the way to the black sea, and a large group of Germans, all several times.
Today was a first for the trip, in that another Bike Friday was spotted. She was from the home of all Friday's, Portland OR.

Have a hoppy day

Had a cool and short ride to the Weltenburg Abbey. The Abbey is on a bend of the Danube that is the entrance to a gorge with limestone cliffs on both sides.  On the other side of the river from our room is a forest. The Abbey has been brewing beer since 600.  They know what they're doing. Beautiful, two room simple apartment.
Ferry ride out in the morning.
Over 337 miles covered with ~107 left.

Dry and cold

A dry but cool day.  The sun keeps trying to find a way out.

Beer and Coke

Spotted this vending machine in the hotel.  Notice that the price of beer is the same as coke.

Fenders and Trains

This was a day for fenders.  Light to medium rain and cold (55 degrees) . Fingers and toes were like prunes. A wrong turn took us to the appropriately named town of Rain, where we caught a train with other water logged cyclists into Ingolstadt.

My first rule of cycle touring is: It will rain.  Second rule: you will be lost.  Got both of them today.

Hello sunshine

Beautiful sunny day. Started the ride with friends, Horst and family.  Thanks for being wonderful hosts!  Along the way we spotted a tube vending machine.  Made Donauworth before sunset.  Was welcomed by a ol car rally.  Wish I could have seen it.  First hotel was full.  They suggested one a km up the hill.  They were also full.  Several phone calls were made, and we were sent to a hotel a km down the hill.  Oh nooooo, it was the same one.  This time Debbie went in.  More phone calls were made, and a hotel was found.  All is well.

Gore Tex

It was one of those days. Gore Tex was the name of the day.  You put your head down and ride.  There is no beautiful scenery, no trees, only the rain.  We had an hour of sun, just enough to take off the rain kit, then the dark skies closed in again.  Reached Ulm in time to climb the largest church steeple in the world.

Riedlingen

Beautiful town.  Seems to get a good chunk of its revenue from cyclists.  We are everywhere in town.  I am starting to recognize different groups of cyclists and see them in town.

The sun appears !

The morning started off very foggy and slowly turned into a wonderfully sunny day.  The first half stayed in a very tight  valley with limestone cliffs on both sides.  Hard to describe the beauty of this ride. The path finally opened up to wide, flat corn fields as we came into Riedlingen. On the approach into town, an elderly couple asked us where we were going and if we needed a place to stay.  She suggested two hotels that were nice but not expensive.  They also suggested the other side of the river as it was wider. The people we meet are very friendly.

What a ride!

We are now on the main section of the ride, and with it's popularity, a good set of cycle specific maps are available.  Very good detail, as well as a graphical description of the road surfaces.  Dashed red means hard packed dirt.  The rain started in the afternoon and was off and on, enough for a very dirty ride.  The reward today was a section of the river that is in a tight valley with no trains or paved roads. Outstanding.

Trail signs

We are now on a main route that follows the Donau.  There are many routes that come and go along the way.  The route is very easy to follow with several groups of touring cyclists along the way.
The builders of the trail system are very serious about what they do.  Pictured is a healthy bridge over a set of railroad tracks.

Under construction

The source of the storied Donau is a spring.  Not a very inspiring view.

Mud

It was one of those days that went between horrible and beautiful.  The rain and mist let up late but left us in a muddy mess.  Part of our way was freshly graded and muddy.   I would rather ride uphill and against the wind than pull a trailer in the mud.  We found a fountain in the fields above Futzen and cleaned up the built up mud.
The climbs had some outstanding sections in the black forest that made it all worthwhile.

Rhine

The velo way we rode today was between Basel and Tiengen, along the Rhine.  About 42 miles with a mix of surfaces, from perfect blacktop to miles of packed rough rocks.  Calling it gravel would be complementary.  Many sections deep in the forest and along the Rhine were outstanding.  Two of the marked turns were under construction.  Another section that used the road was impassable.  We had to push through loose gavel, fresh oil, and high curbs to get across the 100 yards.  Arrived in Tiengen at the start of a light rain.

Here we go

Leaving the hotel. Nice cool morning to start the day.
We stayed in a small town outside of Basel.  Had to wind around the streets to find the marked euro veloway 2.

Basel Switzerland

The Zurich airport was great.  After collecting the bikes and getting the passport stamp, we went to the lower level and cought a train to Basel. The bikes are together now.  We are chilling in the warm afternoon sun with 68 degrees.  Nice new hotel, but it is too far out and no restaurants are near.

Zurich airport

Where are tacos?

We're off

Packing is done.  Zurich here we come.

Ready for Baveria

Time for Debbie and me to pack the bikes again. We are always amazed that everything fits.  Packing for much cooler (highs of 70 on the hot days)  and wetter weather (hello fenders).  We start on the Rhine for a day then over to the source of the Danube and follow the river to Passau on the Austrian border. Stay tuned for more.