geeteetravels

We started the day with a panoramic boat tour of this part of Lake Konstanz. It’s a very large lake, the 3rd largest in Europe. The water was very calm the sun was shining so it was a pleasant ride. While out on the lake a Zeppelin flew right over us, something we haven’t seen before.

It is huge!

Many towns and cities line the lakeshore.

We spent the rest of the afternoon looking around Überlingen and walking on the promenade.

Hotel not recommended.

View of the lake from up high.

A very interesting and bizarre sculpture by local artist Peter Lenk.

More interesting carvings.

An ancient tower, part of the old walled city.

Hansel and Gretel house?

Beautiful fuschias.

In the evening we found a herring festival with music, refreshments and food.

A choir of mostly men singing and playing folk tunes.

We opted to not take in the eating of the herring but did enjoy the music and a glass of wine.

Today’s ride was a bit rainy but not as bad as we thought it would be. Also not much climbing so our muscles got a break. We followed the Danube pathway for about half the distance. Through much of this part of Germany you find an amazingly well developed network of paved cycle paths so you hardly have to deal with car traffic.

The Danube

There’s our friends just ahead.

There are many places where we would pass over or under the highway or railways.

George with all the rain gear.

Our destination today was Lake Konstanz or Bodensee as the Germans call it. It’s a large lake that borders Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It’s lovely and a popular tourist spot.

Enjoying some well deserved ice cream.

The sun finally came out at the end of the day.

One interesting thing we learned today was that June 20th is Corpus Christi (body of christ) day in this part of Germany. It’s a national holiday and just about every business is closed including grocery stores. There were some bakeries open but unfortunately Tara must avoid wheat due to allergy problems so today proved challenging as one needs fuel when cycling all day. She had to resort to McDonald’s, not someplace she frequents often, where she ate a burger without the bun and some french fries! 😨Not a typical meal for me.

This morning we met up with Rob and Katharine who had flown to Europe two days later than us. They caught up by staying only one night each in Strasbourg and Freiburg. We actually caught up to them right on the bike trail this morning leaving Freiburg.

The route today was to Donaueschingen on the Danube so we switched major rivers for a day. We had to climb most of the day and it was hot, 32° and sunny. Tough going as our muscles still need to grow some more! We actually pushed the bike up part of one section as a 15% grade and a loaded bike and our current level of conditioning don’t go together.

The top end of the big hill, thank goodness!

We also had a bit of trouble with our planned route as it sent us down a forestry road which was not good enough for a tandem road bike. Luckily we met a German couple from Stuttgart who were cycling as well. They were lovely and had a map! We were directed out of the forest to the nearest piece of asphalt and then flew downhill at 45km/hr on a great road for the next 10k to a café with ice cream.

Post ice cream and happy for the last 6km

That’s about it for the day as we were thoroughly focused on our hurtin’ muscles and not taking pictures. Maybe more tomorrow when it’s flatter and maybe (gasp!) rainy.

It is a joy to finally get riding after the flights and trains with a large and heavy case. We get to leave that all behind and hop on the bike and go, it’s liberating. Here is our starting point at Le Grande Hotel.

Today’s route was fairly flat and straightforward, following canal pathways and then the Rhine. It was very quiet and serene, very little traffic to deal with. We have got used to riding with the Italians on the road so this was a notable difference.

We saw lots of bird life along the way.

Once in Freiburg we were amazed at the sheer number of people commuting by bicycle, it puts us Canadians to shame.

The volobus ride to the airport this time was uneventful, no pickpocketers that preyed on us. There was a big celebration in the city today so buses were rerouted but no problems for us. Once again we weren’t charged any extra for the bike, 2nd year in a row on British Air. Smooth flight.

We stayed at the Bloc hotel again at the airport, such a convenient solution to storing the bike for a day and no travel in the morning to catch a flight. Anything to make the actual trip easier is a good choice and worth a bit more expense.

We travelled into London via the Gatwick Express, this time using the oyster card, and saved a few pounds. We rode to Euston Station to meet Erika who was coming from Apsley where she’s directing the musical “Rent”. We had hoped to go there and see some of their rehearsal but time didn’t allow. While waiting for her we wandered around the area for a while looking at some historic squares with various memorials, statues and flora to read about and admire. This area of London (Bloomsbury) is a famous intellectual area of London with several universities and was home to artists and authors such as Virginia Wolfe and Charles Dickens in the past.

Had a nice (short) visit with our daughter then back to Gatwick for our last sleep of the holiday.

Arrivaderci, until next time.

I think it’s Zermatt poking up through the cloud on the left

A quick visit and dinner with Erika

Our last day of riding on this holiday was a beautiful sunny day again, we’ve had almost perfect weather the whole time. It’s been fairly warm by Canadian standards, between 25 and 30 celsius, but not bad for Italy in summer.

We headed up the coast passing through many seaside towns and cities such as Noli, Savona, Varazze, Arenzano and then into Genova. This part of Liguria is so densely populated that you never really feel like you left a place and came to a new one, they just blend together. The resort towns are all quite beautiful with beaches, bars, shops, and beachgoers everywhere. Now that it’s summer holiday time it is getting quite busy.

There was another bike pathway between Varazze and Arenzano about 10 kms, which we took but it wasn’t as good as the other 2 we rode. The surface wasn’t as smooth and there were less services available but it got us off the busy road for a while.

Back at the Hotel Chopin we got the bike dismantled and again wondered where the time went. It felt like we had just begun yet it was over. Time to start planning for a new adventure.

When out for dinner that evening we (Tara) unfortunately spotted another rat. Perhaps we won’t come back to Genova. Living in rat-free Alberta makes us a bit sensitive on that subject.

Today again we headed for the hills out of Finale this time on the west side of the city up to Verezzi, yet another Borgo più bello d’Italia. This one is very well preserved, maybe the best we’ve seen, and not very busy, maybe because it is a bit hard to get to up a steep switchback road. There was a small outdoor concert area within it also which would have been fun but no performance until after we’ve left.

Then we headed a bit farther up into the hills through a few more towns and beautiful hilly countryside. A lovely ride. ☺️

We finished the loop at Finalborgo which is the medieval part of Finale Ligure also very interesting although not a special classification like some of the others.

We spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach and swimming in the Mediterranean as it’s the last chance before heading back home.

We had a delicious dinner of tagliatelle in the old centre, mine with porcini mushrooms and George’s with cinghiale (wild boar).

How to stay cool when it’s cooking out

All set up for a show; great to see these spaces in use. And the local postie’s scooter.

Warning! If your gloves are being held together by salt and grime don’t wash them.

Checking out the history of Verezzi.

At one of the two gates into Finalborgo.

The view back down the coast; there are a lot of people clinging to this coastline.