Im Herzen Europas
Best of Europe just to start.
Today was our first riding day... super warm and sunny weather welcomed us in the morning.We set off to cruise through the charming Bavarian countryside. We passed through Germany's most important hops-growing area, the Hallertau, before we crossed the Danube. Our first coffee break was in Wolnzach, where some of us already had an yummy icecream. Eichstätt was our next stop. We visited the Roman catholic cathedral. Across “Fränkische Alb” we reached the “Romantic Road” linking some of the best preserved medieval towns of Germany. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is our spot for tonight. After a yummy dinner we all went out to hear the stories of the framous night watchman.
Our second riding day leads us deeper into the German fairy tale world and history. First we ride through a landscape called Hohenlohe. After a short stop to admire the beautiful garden at Schloss Lagenburg, we continued on twisty roads along the river Jagst and our next stop was Kloster Schöntal. Next to Möckmühl we enjoyed our picnic at a nice and quiet spot. The afternoon brought us into the Neckar valley where we followed the river Neckar till Heidelberg. A event called "Lebendiger Neckar" made our access road to a car free road for today... but with a special permission we were allowed to pass all the bicyclists :-)
Today our route leads us through the Black Forest and the Rhine Valley into France. We left Heidelberg on the highway to save time for the Black Forest. In the morning we had a nice coffee in Bad Herrenalb and climbed up the famous scenic and touristic road B500 Black Forest High Road to Mummelsee. On small roads and trough little villages we headed on to the Rhine valley where we crossed the not existing border to France. Ribeauvillé a small typical French town is our final destination for the next two days.
What a great day :-). We split up our group and went into the Vosges, a bikers paradise, with perfect paved roads and curves, curves curves. The scenery is breathtaking. In the morning we stopped at Haute Koenigsbourg. Had a quick cofffee and went on to explore the nice road. The other group, took it a bit easier and visited the "Le Memoral du Ligne and the museum.
Day 6 - and today we did two bordercrossings and rode in three countries. Started up in France, crossed the Rhein into Germany after about an hour. Then heading southeast throug the southern parts of Schwarzwald. Great mix of hairpins and long sweapers, (very) narrow backroads and open countryroad. Hexenlochmühle was our next stop to taste yummy "SCHWARZWÄLDERKIRSCHTORTE", thats a really difficult word, isn't it???? After yet another great picnic (Claudia - you are a picnic star!) we entered Switzerland, took a look at the Rhein Falls, and went on to Hotel Promenade in Schaffhausen. It was a very hot day to day, and it was perfect to be met in the hotel garage by Claudia, who had a boot bear ready for us ! And for sure Cremant Rose for the ladies :-).
Today's route took us deeper into the mountains of Switzerland. On narrow, twisty roads we rode to Schwägalp for lunch. We surrounded some of the thunderstorms, but at the end we got caught by one. But luckily there was a good spot to let it pass. And finally we reached the Alps in sunshine and on dry roads. Just super, the narrow pass road up to Furkajoch and than over Hochtannbergpass to Warth our stop for tonight.
Already our last riding day :-( .... it always goes so fast.... The weather this morning was perfect when we left Warth. Our route brought us down to Reutte and further on to Castle Neuschwanstein - the so called Walt Disney Castle, where we stopped for a short photo. We stopped at the beautifull Plansee for a coffee before we headed on to castle Linderhof, ehere we had lunch. Afterwards we rode through the Bavarian countryside with its rolling hills full of cows and church steeples. WHAT A WONDERFULL TOUR WITH OUR GREAT GUESTS! Thank you for joining us on this trip through Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria. Claudia & Arild