Training Log Archive: LOST_Richard

Basel to Basel Airport

Just a short ride from the hotel to the airport to collect a rental car.

Ended up in the Swiss half of the airport and had to wheel the bikes through the crowds and up and down lifts to swap to the French side and the right AVIS Desk. Rather odd as we had cycled out of Switzerland and into France before the airport but it is still split into two countries. Even went through a "Border Crossing" in the airport, which was unmanned just like the one on the road.

Did see a patrol of French soldiers with full kit working their way through the airport helping to keep the peace.

Headed to Alsace for lunch and then on to Strasbourg for a few nights.

C • Basel 2

Day 19 Waldshut to Basel

Totals 1069.79km 4632.9m

Another wet morning, we checked the forecast and looked like leaving early would avoid the worst rain that was due in the mid afternoon. Did not quite go plan as it rained solidly for the first 2 hours and then lightened up to just a few showers.

The afternoon rain did not come so we were able to check the sights of Basel in the dry. There are lots of open air stages being set up for a Youth Art / Music / Sport festival today and tomorrow but I think somehow it is going to rain on their parade.

The ride was mostly close to the Rhine but diverged a few times and had a couple of bluffs thrown in early to keep our heart rates up. While an industrial section of the river with power stations, cement and chemical factories the villages and towns still retain some heritage with half timbered houses and old city walls mixed with modern.

Basel is the end of our road for this year's Cycle Tour - we need to get 6km to the airport in the morning to pick up a rental car and that's it. It has been an interesting ride with nice views, cities, countryside and good food and wine along the way. Time to start planning the next one?

Day 18 From Schaffhausen to Waldshut

Totals 1005.22km 4423.3m

Yey, cracked the 1,000km mark today on a rather wet and windy ride on the north side of the Rhine.

After a major thunderstorm yesterday evening and a forecast of more rain today, we headed off under grey skies passed the Rhine Falls again, this time on the North side where there are good views for free rather than the expensive south side. Stopped for a couple of photos and then slogged up several hills to get out onto the plateau. From there it seems mostly downhill to rejoin the Rhine at Hohentengen, then mostly along bike paths through the fields and next to minor roads to arrive in Waldshut. While the route is very well signed, the route crosses in and out of Germany and Switzerland and they have different ideas on the distance with the German signs reducing the distance by 5-10km relative to the Swiss ones. The Swiss had the right distance.

The rain started as we got to the top of the first hill and pretty much stayed with us all the way to Waldshut.

Very few other bike riders out on the road today and we only saw three other groups of touring riders and not much of any people going to the shops.

Day 17 Stein am Rhein to Schaffhausen

Totals 955.38km 4058.5m

Out of Stein on the north side of the river along the flats before having to climb one short steep hill to go over a bluff and then back down onto the flats and into Schaffhausen

Stopped on the edge of town for a coffee and watched a couple of people swimming downstream with dry bags floating behind them, interesting mode of travel and we hope they stopped before the falls!

Original plan was to skip Stein and have two nights here, but the airbnb cancelled on us so we ended up splitting the nights, which has worked out well as both towns are interesting for a day / night and we had time to enjoy both of them.

Rode out to the falls for a look, we were here a few years ago so skipped the paid viewing and boat trips and went back into town. Walked to the top of the castle through the vineyards which overlook the town.

Today looks like the end of the warm spell with storms forecast overnight and major drop in the temperature from the low 30s into the teens with rain for our last two days of cycling.

Schaffhausen to the Rhine Falls and back

Day 16 Guttingen to Stein am Rhein

Totals 925.54km 3838.8m

After a day off and a boat trip across the Lake with Franz, Manu, Anthea, Nicole and Kuri (the beagle) to Meersburg we headed on along the southern shoe of the lake.

Short ride into Konstanz and had a coffee and a bit of retail therapy, but without success on finding anything of value to purchase.

The path from Konstanz mainly followed the rail line and criss crossed the tracks and up and down a few short hills just to keep us on the job and not just cruising on the flat. Started to see lots of half timbered houses in the villages which were all very cute and pretty.

Arrived in Stein am Rhein which has the well deserved reputation of one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. Lots of painted buildings in the main street and a few interesting shops to check out. You know you are in Switzerland when the Mini-Mart has Lindt Balls by the kilo!

Day 15 Hotsch to Guttingen

Totals 883.42km 3676m

Started the day with a light shower but that soon cleared and we cruised along easy paths and out of Austria for the last time and and into Switzerland as we crossed the Alt Rhine, no sign of any border crossing only that the cars were now predominately CH registrations.

Just out of Rorschach we hit a major community bike ride, Slow Up Bodensee, the main road through the towns was closed to traffic and there were literally thousands of bike riders. All ages and all types but mostly family groups. Little ones on balance bikes, tandems, fancy E-Bikes and one or two cycle tourists caught up in the crowd. The route was the same as ours so we joined the throng with regular refreshment and food stations and sponsor tents along the way. The ride concluded Romanshorn with a tent city on the water front. Most impressive community event no racing just lots of people having a nice day out.

Onward to Guttingen to meet up with Anthea for the afternoon, had a nice dip in the lake in the afternoon and BBQ with Franz and Manu