Day 99: Blaustein to Riedlingen

May 25, 2023

Donau River Trail

“Just follow the signs,” our warmshowers hosts says about the Blau River bike path that eventually connects with the Donau River Bike Path. He reviews the maps with Patrick and recommends the alternate Blau River route over the main Danube River bike route. For the most part following the signs work very well, occasionally through a town requires much more vigilance. The basic rule is keep going straight until you see another sign, and hope that one wasn’t missed. The best is seeing the green arrow turn before the hill that is up ahead.

We have breakfast with our host and are on the road by 0730. We find the Blau River Bike route and follow the signs. After about 20 km we detour into Blaubeuren to find the headwaters of the Blau River, a beautiful blue spring amongst beech trees and a watermill. Blaubeuren looks like a very interesting town, lots of pretty "vakwerk" buildings. We find a bakery/café open and stop for coffee and pastry, much more pricey than we’ve been used to in the past few months.

After Blaubeuren we follow the Schmiech River to Ehingen where we meet the Danube and the main bike route. According the Klaus in Klagenfurt the Blau and Schmiech Rivers are in an ancient river bed of the Danube. Even though we follow the river, the route isn’t all flat, each time we go to a village the path goes up and through the towns. The towns are pretty though and we have a good tailwind today. The day started off pretty cool at only 46 degrees and the sky stayed grey all morning. We meet lots of cyclists headed the east and even though most are on e-bikes we feel bad for the ones that are struggling and cold.

Why can't we have bakeries like this in the US?

A local stops to tell Patrick the history of the statue

We take another extended break for sandwiches when we find a nice spot sheltered from the wind, the ride on to just before Riedlingen where there is a tents-only camping area. We are the first cyclists there at about 2 o’clock, but through the afternoon more cyclists arrive and pitch their tents. In the evening there are six tents. We talk for a while with Ollie, a young English guy on an indefinite length trip who is probably on his way to Turkey and beyond. The other cyclists mostly keep to themselves. We have been a bit disappointed by the lack of camaraderie amongst cyclists in Europe, nobody stops to talk along the route, though it’s understandable with the number of cyclists

Happy this is downhill to us, at the bottom

Patrick makes a quick run to town to pick up groceries for lunch and dinner. There is a Turkish kebab for lunch and smoked salmon, salami, cheese and knackebrud for dinner: washed down with a bottle of French wine.

Arrived to the "tent only" campground before the town.

Today's ride: 69 km (43 miles)
Total: 3,874 km (2,406 miles)

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Scott AndersonSo close now! You must be getting excited to be nearing the end.
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11 months ago

Rachel and Patrick HugensTo Scott AndersonTwo weeks cycling and a week in Holland!! Planning last stretch now....
See you guys in July and safe travels
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11 months ago