|
How about a quick roll down the Danube? This is a beautiful ride, very scenic and also very easy. I first rode it in 2003. I was fortunate enough to be able to do it for a second time in the Summer of 08 with two good friends. You start in the small town of Donaueschingen in the Black Forest in Germany where the river rises from a spring encircled by a marble shrine. The bike path, the Donauradweg, starts at the spring itself, and runs east along the Danube. It crosses Germany and Austria, passes Vienna and goes all the way to the black Sea. The path is paved most of the way and also free of car traffic. For the first few kilometers the Danube is simply a small creek, not big enough to warrant a road beside it. The bikepath along here follows nearby minor roads and farm roads instead. As soon as the river attains a reasonable size the bike route appears beside it and follows the shoreline from then on almost without a break. The route grows progressively more beautiful the farther east you ride. By the time you enter Austria the scenery is simply breathtaking. The cyclist is comforted along his way by small and large inns, restaurants and bierstuben. Although there are numerous towns, small and large along the river the over all impression is one of open vistas and ceaseless movement. This was my socond trip and I may have to do it one more time, with my brother if I'm lucky. Check out the video here. The route frequently changes sides and in many places there is a choice of routes on either side of the river. Crossing the river entails using a few bridges and many small ferries. Every few kilometers there are locks for the river liners and barges and they also provide opportunities for bikes and pedestrians to change sides. Bike touring is very popular in Germany and Austria and it's rare to find yourself totally alone on the path. See a Packing List here. Arriving in the city of Vienna makes a great ending to the trip. Have a slice of Sacher Torte at the Sacher Hotel. Take a ride on a river cruiser and don't miss the Prater, the world's largest ferris wheel.  On my first trip I trained back from Vienna to Paris. I wa riding a conventional bike and for convenience packed the bike before train journey. If you're interested HERE'S HOW. The second trip was done on a Bike Friday Airglide, a wonderful bike to ride. Rather than the complicated packing required by a conventional bike it sim[ply slips into a shoulder bag in a couple of minutes and comes back out as you get off the train, at the other end ready to ride. Check out Bike Friday for more info. Throughout the trip I used the Bikeline Radtourenbuch. It shows the route in very helpful detail and offers detailed route notes. It also gives information on lodging and places of interest along the way. There are many, many dedicated bike paths in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and a radtourbuch for each one. The following summer I biked almost the entire length of the Rhine and then the Mosel using their guidebooks. If you'd like to know more about the books click on the book to go to the site.  |