August 22nd Stage 24
Schaffhausen to Izmang (Lake Constance) 39 kms
After a break of nearly two and a half very
busy summer months, when there was time for only about 500 kilometres of
training, it was very good to be
continuing the ride to the Black Sea.
After a long stressful drive in heavy traffic to Schaffhausen I got back
on the bike in the exact place I dismounted on June 3rd, at the
entrance to the Hauptbahnhof. There was, however, an immediate change of plan.
Instead of crossing the watershed immediately to Hausen and the Danube we
decided to continue along the Rhine, through Stein am Rhein to Lake Constance
and then tomorrow make our way up to Sigmaringen where we will meet the Danube.
I am joined for the first six days by Vicky, and Magali is a companion for
Katherine in the “support vehicle.” Although the vehicle itself is more likely
to need support than I am!
The decision to change the route was a good
one. Today was an easy, uneventful afternoon ride of 39 kilometres along the
banks of the Rhine, full of holiday makers and very animated. The minor roads
and tracks on the north side of the river wander in and out of Germany as far
as Stein and are delightful. A surprise after the heavy traffic between Basle
and Schaffhausen in June. I had also forgotten just how beautiful Stein am
Rhein is. We pushed the bikes under the arch at the west end of the town, had a
brief conversation with a gallery owner lounging outside his shop, and admired
the magnificent painted facades. Maybe Stein really is the most beautiful town
in Switzerland. Even the side streets are worth exploring. Now, though, at the
end of the summer holidays, it was very crowded, and we were not unreluctant to
leave the town and follow the road and tracks hugging the spur of the lake as
far as Izmang where Katherine found a delightful and surprisingly uncrowded
simple campsite by the side of the lake, although later in the evening the
mosquitoes became very troublesome indeed.
An easy first stage of the second half of
the journey, in very hot weather. The shady wooded sections were very welcome
indeed.
39kms
Total from Schaffhausen 39 kms. Total from Galway 1945 kms.
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