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Germany 2017

May - July 2017
A 40-day adventure by Cathy Read more
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  • TravelerGermany 2017
    Day 1

    Along the Canal: the RegnitzRadweg

    May 29, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Today's ride took us along the Main Donau Canal from Bamberg to Nuremberg. The canal roughly follows the Regnitz River but we chose the canal route, it was 10 klm shorter! Rain this morning until about 11 but it was a nice change from the heat of the last few days. We've got 2 nights in Nuremberg and this is our first experience of Airbnb. Great little apartment a couple of kilometres from the centre of town. Our own apartment gives us a chance to check out the local supermarket and use the washing machine (a good idea after riding in the rain).
    Stats for the day: 68.8 KM, averaging 16.9. Church bells have just started to ring!    Read more

  • TravelerGermany 2017
    Day 3

    Checking out Nuremberg

    May 31, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    No riding today so I suppose you'd call it a rest day. Local public transport got us out to the "Documentation Centre Nazi Party Rally Grounds". Nuremberg was the centre for the huge party rallies and one part of an unfinished congress hall is now an amazing information centre about the rise of nazism and the Nuremberg trials. One of the photos shows part of the unfinished congress centre. Other photos show an amazing fountain in one of the old town squares, part of the castle wall almost growing out of the rock and the view from our window. Lots more to see here for sure, but we ride on tomorrow.Read more

  • TravelerGermany 2017
    Day 5

    On to the Romantische Strasse

    June 2, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Yesterday we got a train from Nuremberg to Donauworth and joined one of the main bike tourist trails, the Romantische Strasse. Our first night on the trail was to Nordlingen. An amazing little town that still has a complete town wall, inside the wall is the old town, with some tiny houses built into the wall. It's all cobble stones and historic building and quaint little squares. Then as soon as you go outside the wall, regular suburbia, the first thing I noticed as we rode out this morning was Macca's. Riding along the Romantische Strasse is superb, classic little villages, rolling green hills and farm land. The path is a mixture of back roads, occasionally dirt farm tracks and paved bike paths through the fields. Tonight we're in Feuchtwangen, hoping there aren't too many church bells here. Last night there were 2 sets of church bells and a cuckoo clock, no need for an alarm clock in this part of the world.
    The aerial photo is of Nordlingen, front cover of a brochure, then our guest house in Nordlingen. Tonight Jan needed the help of a very large beer to work out what was on the menu. The "totem" poles are in the centre of some of the small villages we pass through. We haven't found out what they are yet but we'll work it out.
    Weather forecast for tomorrow is not good, thunder storms so we better get on the road early.    Read more

  • TravelerGermany 2017
    Day 6

    To Rothenburg ob der Tauber

    June 3, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Not a long ride today but quite a hill on the way to Rothenburg on the Tauber River. Trusty navigator found a great spot for morning tea on a terrace looking down on our route. We'd done the hill by then and could see the beautiful run down the other side. There's a wind farm off in the distance here but mostly we see huge solar panels. Most farm building seem to be covered in panels, perhaps that says something about the climate, lots of sun, no wind. That's certainly been our experience. We arrived in Rothenburg to find the town taken over by a big festival, it's a long weekend here. Luckily we were staying about 5K out of town in a small village so hoping for a quiet night, although there is a rooster in the yard next door. Of course Jan can't resist a festival so she rode back into town to join in the fun while I had a quiet afternoon. An easy 42 K today with an extra 10 for JanRead more

  • TravelerGermany 2017
    Day 7

    Along the Tauber

    June 4, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    We headed back into Rothenburg and through the old town yesterday. The festival was still in full swing with bands playing, locals wandering around in costumes and throngs of tourists. Then we followed the path back onto the Tauber River. The ride was the best yet, a gorgeous valley and interesting encounters along the way. We stopped on a bridge to take a photo of a little chapel and a local out for a walk stopped to chat. In Creglingen we stopped for lunch, the town was eerily quiet, everyone was in Rothenburg, but we found a great little cafe, Michelangelo's, perfect hot chocolate and apple strudel. Before we left other cyclists had followed our lead so we were good for business.
    Even the wildlife was interesting; big white snails creeping across the path.
    Afternoon tea was in Weikersheim in a tranquil town square. Around the square were a series of gold statues, the photo probable doesn't do them justice. The tranquility was shattered when the weekend piping school got back to work after their break. Imagine a dozen or so bagpipe players practicing in a castle courtyard.
    Only about 60K but we had such a great day we didn't get here to Bad Mergentheim until after 5.    Read more

  • TravelerGermany 2017
    Day 9

    Relaxing at the Bad, and on to the Main

    June 6, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Yesterday was our day off in Bad Mergentheim, a spa town, so of course we had to check it out. To get to the spa complex we walked through the Kurpark, (I think this translates as Cure Park), a tranquil garden with water features, music and as you can see the beginning of a Nordic walking trail. No jogging here. We spent a couple of hours relaxing in hot pools, being massaged by water jets and generally having a fine time. Part of the complex is also a regular indoor pool with water slides, so when we were totally relaxed it was time to join the kids and go down the water slides, great fun. It was Jan's first time on a water slide, there's no stopping her now.
    Today was our last day on the Romantische Strasse, we were sorry to leave it, it's been fantastic. We encountered the character in the photo along the way, no idea what it was about.
    We were heading back to the Main River so there was quite a climb from the Tauber valley. We're staying in Veitshocheim, just a few kilometres along the river from Wurzburg, but we decided a short cut was in order. A muddy farm track and a hair raising run down hill beside a busy road got us here.
    Stormy weather threatened all day but we managed to miss it, the only time it rained was when we were browsing in a bike shop.
    Electric bikes are all the go here, we see a lot out on the trail, and the shop had a huge range. Some towns have a charging station at the tourist information centre.    Read more

  • TravelerGermany 2017
    Day 10

    The bend in the Main

    June 7, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    We chose the long route, following the Main from just north of Wurstburg then north to Gemunden, then the river turns south. We're now at Markheidenfeld after a 70 K ride. The highlight of the day was watching the progress of a cruise boat through a lock. The passengers must get used to groups of cyclist staring down at them as they go through. Today was cold and showery so only a couple of hardy souls were out on the front deck. We did like the mini golf set up on the deck, I wonder how many balls go overboard. All the deck chairs and sunshades are folded down, I assume to go under the bridge unless it was too cold for deck games today. It's a tight fit as it goes through, good steering!
    The showers today meant the wet weather gear came out a bit although it never lasted long. Tomorrow the weather clears.
    Our room tonight looks out over the river, too cold to eat at the restaurant next door though so we opted for a cosy establishment around the corner.    Read more

  • TravelerGermany 2017
    Day 12

    Getting to Stuttgart

    June 9, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Our last day on the Main was an easy ride to Wertheim, then the train to Stuttgart. Changing trains in Laud was tricky, the timetable said we had 4 minutes! It didn't work, the small train from Wertheim had steep steps, hard to get bikes up and down and there was a rush of people trying to get on as we got off. So we spent a quiet couple of hours in Laud waiting for the next train.
    Navigating from the station to our Pension, only a couple of kilometres, needed a lot of help from google maps, a major construction site in front of the station had as heading off in the wrong direction.
    Susanne, Greg, Nathan and Rubin arrived to meet us about 5 minutes after we got here. Fantastic to see them. We did a quick tour of the city centre, then had a great meal of local specialties. Nathan was a big help translating the menu and advising us on local specialties.    Read more

  • TravelerGermany 2017
    Day 12

    Learning more about Swabian specialties

    June 9, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Visited the family in Scharnhauser Park today, 20 minutes by U Bahn from our hotel. Nathan treated us to a "Swabian Adventure Cake" for afternoon tea, then Greg showed us all around the area. The suburb was developed on the site of an old US military base. Wonderful open spaces and extensive cycling and walking paths and a unique kids play ground. The sculpture of the rabbits and the carrot is quite stunning, so unexpected out in the middle of the field.

    Thanks to Nathan, Rubin, Susanne and Greg for a wonderful time in Stuttgart. Hope to see you all in Melbourne sometime soon.    Read more

  • TravelerGermany 2017
    Day 12

    Tourists in Stuttgart

    June 9, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Our excellent tour guides showed us the highlight of Stuttgart today. First stop was the Mercedes-Benz museum, covering 130 years of German automotive history. It was a wonderful display of cars, such works of art, and fascinating history. For those inclined I'm sure the tech story was just as good. One of my favourites in the room of celebrity cars was the Popemobile, the old fire engine and the London bus also. Then it was on to the Bibliotheque, the Municipal library, a stunning building. Then a gentle stroll through the cemetery and coffee (ice cream, hot chocolate ....) in Schlossplatz. For a couple of members of our group the purchase of fidget spinners was also a winner. We ended the day with a tour of the coveted market.Read more

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