Cycling through Central europe

To Geneva and on into France (by about 2 miles) The end of trip staying with Anthony Anna and family. A lot of hill to reach their house. Plane booked home for Monday. Cycled through vineyards along side the Lake the out of Geneva and just into France. Nice to be with family. Tuesday Ant helped me (well he did most of it) pack up my bike. Went for a nice walk up the hill behind house on Sunday afternoon. and passed some Swiss cows with bells on

Probably 60 miles my mileage counter stopped working. But following a cycle route plus signs think about that. I am now on Lake Geneva as known in Britain. The route between the lakes was a bit hilly, but met a couple of other people cycling. The first a very sporty German girl with all the gear, cycling to Barcelona. After cycling together for a bit, I encouraged her just to go ahead as she was much faster than me.  I lost the route about 10 miles from Lucern and used my mio device to find it, but my device likes the hilliest route possible -not the regular one. Got me there though!  I am camping at Morges, a little bit further forward on the lake, Shame it is raining because at one point a got a glimpse of the Alps through the mist. Still,plenty of swans.which I hope are better behaved than the little birds who tried to steal my Croissant this morning.   Last night camping tomorrow should reach Anna and Ant.

Wed. 60 miles To just before Solothurn on the river Aare I took the train to near the point I had reached the day before. (I had gone backwards to stay in a youth hostel) In fact it was more bother than it was worth, because the steps up to the train are very steep, so it was difficult to get panniers and bike on. For getting off, I unashamedly asked a young man to help me down.    So after a while I left the cycle route I was on which follows the Rhine. After a bit of effort found my way to the marked route down the Aare deeper into Switzerland. Not always following the river, sometimes being taken high up to one side or the other, later in the day the valley floor widened and I was cycling through feilds of newly cut grass A lot of tractors and trailers in action.    This is also a commercial area and I passed a lot of industrial units. A train line and main road took the same route.     No sign of anywhere to camp. So eventually I turned ...

To Neuhausen Actually been further but returned to youth hostel with another cyclist. Main point today was seeing the rhine falls which I had never even heard about. Quite impressive also quite a little tourist trap.   I have also after 20 miles enters Switzerland, first town Stein am Rheim beautiful. Also, of course filled with coach parties plus lots of school kids.   So plan is to head to Geneva (might seek the odd short distance on train), stay with Anna Ant. and family and then fly back home from there.

To Bodensee on Lake Constance  Not a lot of milage, but up and over a hill range to leave the trickle of a Danube Behind. Great being up in the hills. I was down, because there was a big downhill at Rsdolfzell am Bodensee by lunch time, so had a picnic by the lake. Then went out of town to find a nice campsite by the lake where I had a semi relaxing afternoon. I did have to hit a supermarket for supplies before entering Switzerland. Sun is out, I think it is great but everybody else seems to thi k it is cold.

Riedlingen to Tuttlingen It rained during the night,but a peaceful spot and a great nights sleep. I began by cycling up and along the hill rather than by the off road river cycle path. A great idea as on Sunday hardly any traffic and I passed an old hill fort at Hundrrsingen. By afternoon and a few more miles the Danube as I cycle up river is visably diminishing in size. I cross cross on small bridges frequently as I work my way up through a limestone goirge    A days cycling with no big towns , hills views and wild life .The squirrels here are a darker shade than our red ones at home. Birds of prey in the sky and occasionally a deer. Also in one small village the children’s play park seemed to be hosting 3 circus ponies a llama and a camel.   Tuttlingen is where I leave the Danube now a mere stream. It is however, a bigger town and the free camping area next to the skateboard park did not feel very secure. But Ralph and Silke riding their bikes ‘rescued ‘ me and I sen...

Günzburg to Riedlingen So I did not really enjoy that hostel last night, but at least I had a shower. In the morning I discovered there were 2 other cyclists holed up on a room, but they had avoided using the communal showers, Now as a female I had been given my own key to my own special shower unit,so had used it.   On the morning cycled on to Ulm. Some nice stretches through woods pungent with wild garlic, Also roads and bigger towns as I approached what is a city. All the bridges across the Danube and much of the city is new, as it was heavily bombed in the Second World War. The result is a lot of parkland and a lot of cycle paths, a nice place I even got camping gaz.   I did not fancy the industrial route out so took a local commuter train for about 15 miles. Then cycled on to Riedlingem. The Danube is getting smaller and the hills bigger. A number of touring cyclists coming the other way, and nice to stop and have a chat. I met an English guy with a Spanish girlfriend...

Neuburg an Dee Donau to Günzburg So this morning I cycled a hill route above the river. Then returned to the Danube and all the villages with their castles and grand churches in the afternoon. In one square there was a small market. Many of the churches and some of the older houses have murals painted on the outside     I mistakenly booked a hostel with own room in advance, meant I could cycle on and not worry about the forecast rain. Trouble was I could not find the place. I used google maps etc but all it took me to was a fitness club.   Turns out the said hotel was hiding behind it with no signage, and that is because it is really just a place for itinerant workers. Not what I was expecting, but by that time it was pouring with rain. Actually the people are friendly, my room is clean, (and has a lock), and a couple of the guys lifted my bike up the steps for me .No problem about having it in my room. I even have kettle, microwave and TV but the electrics look a bit d...

Bad Abbach to Newburgh an Dee Donau So I got my hills today, in fact the actual cycle route went up a vertical route through a wood .I had to push bike to the top, where I found a Belgium couple testing having done the same. As we sat we watched a much younger pair of men appear pushing electric bikes! The Belgium couple came with me on my planned road route, which had hills, but ones you could cycle up.    Later on the day I had a bit of a do in the supermarket, I passed an isle and saw a woman collapsed so whilst I checked her pulse (she had one ) I called out for help,extroidinary people just ignored me and passed by! So I started to yell ambulance doctor anything to get attention, eventually a sensible looking young man stopped got out his mobile phone and rang for one. Then at last a member of staff appeared with a useless looking first aid kit. At that point as the woman who was still lying on the floor unresponsive did have attention I made a sharp exit!  So t...

43 miles cycled Cycled to Passau along the signed cycle route and back in Germany. Different part but what a big country. So I  now on my way home,and there is no way I have time to cycle all the way home. So took the train from Passau to Regensburg, which cuts out a couple of days. Then cycled to Bad Abbach and a campsite. Along river again am getting a bit bored with this now and need some proper hillsNice area and the river is getting narrower and I am entering the Black Forest area of Germany. Meanwhile enjoying their good bakeries, and using map to cut out loops in river and cut across a hill or two instead.

Grein to Inzel Cycled through Linz today-quite a big place and famous because it is where Hitler spent his youth. There were a lot of road works going on and a lot of grand buildings visible, but I did not stop for long. It was nice to reach quiet stretches again.What a treat this evening has been cycling along a narrow road by the river with the swans and ducks for company and the river winding through rocky cliffs, which are forested. Camping at a small site overlooking the river. Other cyclists, clean shower,bins emptied, friendly owner. Nice. What cycling is all about.

Krems to Grein Dry morning but cold, cycling through small villages with vineyards. The occasional tourist trap. In one small town there seemed to be at least 5 different tour guides with their groups in action. At Melk there is an enormous old Benedictine monastery overlooking the town. A lot of the cruise boats which I have seen stop here. I passed an organised cycle ride. The Australians cyclists I chatted to were from such a cruise.   I am gaining height and as the day wore on the Danube banks became more forested. Most people cycle downhill. I, of course,am going up!    Not that impressed by tonight’s campsite-expensive with only basic facilities. I have used their pricey washer and dryer. Cannot get proper reception on their wi fi so photos from today will follow. Just a couple of night time ones. I

Just before Vienna to Krems an der Donau It was wet today, this morning it was angry rain. I did have a quick cycle around Vienna but on Sunday morning everything looked cold and wet. So to warm up I cycled along to Klosterneuburg which had an enormous castle/monastery, it also had an expensive but warm and dry cafe/restaurant which was open. I spent a long time in there, and a very short time looking around the outside of the large historic building.   Then continued along my cycle route. The rain eased, rather than stopped, Great countryside. Woods cookoos and the smell of wild garlic. A nice ride as long as I kept moving, stop and I soon felt a chill.   Now in quite a large but very pleasant town, and I am camping in a site by the river, with no main road or railway nearby. There is a day room to use, and other cyclists.   I met a few tourers coming in the opposite direction from me today. Other than that it was very quiet. Normally cycle paths are busy on a Sund...

12 in Hungary 15 in Slovakia 37 in Austria Am now camping in a site just on the edge of the city, near the cycle path in but also near a railway line and a busy road. This is a shame because the afternoon was spent cycling through quiet National park woodland beside the Danube, although I rarely saw the river because of the trees.   A lot of effort is going into building new cycle paths, some still in progress so occasionally I got spat out onto muddy tracks.  Went through a couple of nice towns, the first in Hungary. I brought fruit as I tried to use up all my currency The second, now in Austria was Hainburg, a place with a castle and walls, but I saw more of the out of town shoppers mall as I restocked my supplies at the supermarket. I had wanted to keep my lunch for the National Park but had to eat it in the large car park as could not fit all the food in my panniers.