The BIG bike ride in Germany
Wales/England/France/Germany/Czech/Germany/Denmark/Sweden/Norway/England
22nd May. Day 63. Cycled up the Czech border: Bodenwöhr, Schwarzhofen, Oberviechtach, Weiden, Neustadt, Windischeschenbach and then round in a loop: Erbendorf, Reuth to a YH which is in Windischeschenbach. Seems there are tensions in this area between Czechs, former East Germans, Poles and the locals. Listened to some inspiring piano and slept...
21st May. Day 62. Saw a bit of sunny Regensburg and then decided to ride. Got to Nittenau, up the B17. Not very far but at least I'm moving. Since I was last camping in France the weather has changed to make it very plesant.
20th May. Day 61. Rode a long way today, no idea how much, over 130Km anyway. Rode through Freising, Mainburg to Regensburg. Camping by the "blue" Danube.
19th May. Day 60. Cycled the short distance to Dachau from Munich. This is the site of the first Nazi concentration camp. Really made me think being there.
18th May. Day 59. Rainy day, went to the Deutsches museum which has lots of great science and technology. Such a big place impossible to see it all in one visit. Really impressed with the old computers they have there. Including a CRAY 1.
17th May. Day 58. Spent the day with a hardcore tourist, saw everything else, practically of Munich. Climbed the "Dom" to get a great view of the city with the backdrop of the Alps. Went to the famous Hofbraühaus drank beer and ate traditional Bavarian fayre.
16th May. Day 57. Amazing day in München, lots to see and I saw them. Tramping the streets, biking the streets. Meeting cool people and generally having a wierd and cool time...
15th May. Day 56. Got to Munich, my first impressions are the sweet smell of brewing, a difficult road system and lots of friendly people. "I never try to see anything on my first day in a city" I just made that up today, but it's true, after a ride into a place, the struggle to find a bed for the night and all that I'm usually in the mood for nothing in particular.
14th May. Day 55. Cycled Kempten, Markt Oberdorf, Schongan, Weilheim, Pähl and Herrching on my way to Steinbach YH on the shores of the Wörthsee. Was going to try to make Munich as it is so near but the heavens opened, the roads turned greasy and I had to go bike helmet shopping.
13th May. Day 54. Cycled to Kempten, was just going to go via the man road but I somehow got diverted into using cyce paths. Went to Wangen, Heimenkirch, Isny im Allgäu, Buchenberg (966M) before Kempten. Eventually found the Youth Hostel, great views from there to more Alpine scenery.
12th May. Day 53. I am now in Bavaria the land of Lederhosen and sausage dogs. Seen the former already. Cycled 65Km or so Owingen to Lindau via the shore of the Bodensee. Beutiful views of the Swiss, Austrian and Bavarian Alps today. Staying at the YH in Lindau, meeting some random people.
11th May. Day 52. It's all true about the brown cows with bells around their necks. Cycled Bonndorf, Blumberg, Engen, Eigeltingen. On my way to Stockack and the shores of the Bodensee (Lake Constance) met a rodie with chain a problem, bodged it for him and rode with him to a bike shop to get it fixed properly. To cut a long story short ended up staying with him and his family in Owingen. All sporty cyclists.
10th May. Day 51. Cycled from Freiburg up the Höllental - Hell Valley - got to Titisee, just afterward I cycled up a road that climbs out of the valley, up the lake side, there I came across the site of a serious RTA. A coach had just plunged over the barrier. I was on the scene just as the first emergency veichles were arriving. Lots of bleeding people, but what to do. I thought the best thing I could do was to get out of the way and let people get on with things. The sirens and helicopter sounds are stuck in my head...
9th May. Day 50! A nice relaxed day in Freiburg, kicking back and enjoying the views of the mountains.
8th May. Day 49. Seeing the Münster which is a very impressive church, talking some photos and meeting some studenty people. Went to a Fahrradwerkstatt (DIY bike work shop) where I could re-grease my headset, true my rear wheel (with some expert assistance on hand) and generally fettle my bike for less than a quid an hour. We should have these places in the UK.
7th May. Day 48. Doing some bike shopping, sorting out some things seeing Freiburg. Meeting cool people.
6th May. Day 47. Sundays in Germany - no lorries on the roads. Cycled to Alpirsbach, Schiltach, Haslach up a 520M climb and then on to Elzach and Waldkirch. Met a friendly cyclist there and we cycled together (getting a bit lost) to Freiburg im Breisgau. That was about 100Km in total. Big on bike culture here, also a student town so the LWB feels right at home! Staying at yet another Youth Hostel, but I see this as a good thing because the 'Wetter' wants to do nasty things.
5th May. Day 46. One of those days where the weather can't make up it's mind. Cycled back through Altensteig from Nagold to Freudenstadt again. Staying at the Youth Hostel again. I just needed somewhere to SLEEP!
4th May. Day 45. Went on a day trip to Tübingen, a lovely University town, the sort of place I feel I could spend a week looking around... saw some stuff, took some photos. In the evening went clubbing in Stuttgart, the city that is watched over by the three pointed star.
3rd May. Day 44. Cycled from Freudenstadt via Altensteig to Nagold where I am staying with some friends of my family.
2nd May. Day 43. It may as well have been a green border I crossed into Germany, not a border guard in sight. Rode into Kehl and then on towards the Black Forest going through Sand, Oberkird and then a massive 10Km climb to Zuflucht (963M). On route through this bit I saw a browny/red squirrel. A great feeling going down hill all the way to Freudenstadt to stay at a Youth Hostel.
Wales/England/France/Germany/Czech/Germany/Denmark/Sweden/Norway/England
