What’s this falling from the skies???..? Rain!!! We’re out of here!! . . . . . The beauty of having a motorhome we can “up & go” at the drop of a hat! The weather is looking great a few 100km north, Bruce agrees so we follow the sun!! Still in the bottom 1/3 of Germany (Bavaria) we explore more interesting places and artwork!
Leaving Bavaria, we have a date with Team Black Forest, Martin and Edith, our riding mates from Tour de Donau, at their home town of Baden-Baden (in the Black Forest). Quote from Lonely Planet travel guide: “So nice that you have to name it twice!!”
Rugged up today as temperature has plummeted to 20 degrees !! . . . . 3/4 pants and even a vest for Bev as we explore Nördlingen. (Wikipedia) This old town is also totally encircled by a well preserved medieval wall and towers, however it boasts to be the only town that you can walk the entire walls – 2.7kms !! . . . so the challenge is on to check this fact out.
Onward bound we travel along Germany’s most popular holiday route – The Romantic Road – Romantische Straße which draws over two million visitors each year!! (wikipedia) . . It is near impossible to choose between photos for our blog now!! UGH!! . . . . it’s always a good idea to start our exploring with a Kaffee and delicious German Kuchen!
Aussie Bruce orders a reluctant Bev out of the swimming pool and guides us on a journey through a beautiful Bavaria.
Struck it lucky again with a peaceful, shady campingplatz, 10kms from Passau! . . . . plus the added bonus of . . . . a BIG ZUM BAD especially for Bev!! No crowds here, so Bev starts her training for the Synchronised Swimming Olympic (over 60 ish) Team 2020!!!? Swimming therapy is just what we need after our cycling adventure!
Day |
Saturday, 21 July 2018 |
Start |
Passau, Germany |
Destination |
Engelhartszell, Austria |
Distance Travelled |
30km |
Accommodation |
Gasthaus Goldenes Schiff |
Weather |
Cloudy, drops of rain, warm – 25 |
Rain and thunderstorms were forecast for the afternoon so we planned a short day 1 following the NORTH bank route passing the Bavarian forest and into Austria. The Donau (Danube) has cut a path 300m deep through the mountain ridge. Most of the valley slopes are covered with mixed woods.
We were cruising for an easy first stage win today when our lead was almost sabotaged….. by a peloton full of Australians!! Our route included a bike/pedestrian Fahre (ferry) crossing at the end of our journey to Engelhartszell. We were ready to board but the ferry captain said he had to wait for a large group of 40 riders that were 5 minutes behind us – The Australians!!…. We all piled on board, with our bikes going on last. This was OK as we were first off and hence will wear the yellow jersey tomorrow!! We enjoyed a chat on the crowded ferry and discovered some were from our home town of Melbourne/Templestowe — it is a small world!!
Our accommodation over looks the Donau River and the village is famous having Austria’s only Trappist monastery and of course a beautiful church.
Welcome to our 2018 European BLOG adventure!
Aussie Bruce, our motorhome, gave Mark a fright in Dover waiting to board the ferry to France. It seems he had developed Cold Feet and decided not to budge – or drive onto the ferry!!
After a visit from the AA, he was begrudgingly towed away at midnight to nearby Canterbury.