August 23rd Stage 25 Iznang to Riedlingen 94 kms
fter a ferocious storm last night some of
our group were up very early, tent down and eager to leave. First stop was
Radolfzell, an attractive town with its black and white timbered houses and a magnificent
church, for breakfast and more decisions about the route. By chance we chose
what turned out to be the continuation of Eurovelo 6 which took us easily to
Stockau alongside the main road on an excellent wide cycle piste.
Unfortunately, in Stockau, in accepting the kind help of a passing stranger, we
also lost the Eurovelo route. Instead we followed the 323 main road with cycle
tracks in places and patient, courteous drivers where we were obliged to take
to the main carriageway to Messkirche. It was here that, at last, after a long
steady but easy climb, we crossed the east-west watershed and headed down into
the Danube river system. After 51 kms, Messkirche, strangely quiet in this end
of season holiday period, was a welcome coffee stop before we braved the 311
road to Mengen, which required the utmost vigilance if we were to avoid being
crushed by the huge trucks. But another milestone (or should I say
kilometrestone?) was crossed here: 2000 kilometres from Galway! I was excited
to reach the Danube, after the Shannon, the Loire, the Saone/Doubs,and the
Rhine, the fifth major river system of the trip. However, at Riedlingen the
Danube is still rather small and unassuming. It will be exciting to follow its
growth. We moved very quickly at the end of the day, along the manicured,
gravel bicycle routes some distance from the river, to the intimate, garden
campsite which Katherine had found in Riedlingen. I was surprised to find we
had covered more than 90 kilometres, the more so as it had included a couple of
longish climbs. I hope this augurs well for the long journey ahead of us.
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