Cycling by Number

Nidau, Switzerland to Olten to Waldshut, Germany

Day 52 - Wednesday - August 3
Joos and Reinke have been our neighbors for 2 evenings. They are from Maasticht, Netherlands and are headed to Venice, Italy. They have invited us to their home if we are close by in 2 weeks when they get back home. We have similar styles of bike touring and talked a lot about our current and future plans.

What a difference a day makes. We ate breakfast and packed between rain showers. We would not have been able to see the Alps today. Fortunately, it stopped raining by the time we were ready to leave.

It took us awhile but we found the Aare River route out of Biel and headed east. It was a combination of paved and gravel paths. It was well-signed and easy to follow.

We saw a lot of families touring together. The marked routes are mostly off roads so are easy for young kids to ride safely.

The storks are back. We haven't seen many through most of France.

A very different "Stations of the Cross" at a church in Wangen.

This nice log cabin was in the middle of nowhere. The porch looked like a great place to pitch the tent if it was raining any harder. 

We didn't stop but it took 3 tries to find a place in Olten. The first was too weird, the 2nd too expensive, and the 3rd one gave us a discount for arriving by bike, gave us a whole plate of fresh fruit (7 kinds) and a plate of chocolate; AND had very warm and welcoming clerk. And the room was large enough to dry out the wet tent so it was just right. Dinner was McDonald's for 25.80 francs! That was relatively cheap for dinner.

Day 53 - Thursday - August 4
This bridge site has been occupied for centuries but the latest version was built in 1812.

Documenting the flood events on the Aare River. 1852 holds the record but 2007 came close.

A dam disguised as a covered bridge.

The gear guy is beginning to wonder about all these miles on gravel.

You are here. And if you aren't here you can find out where you should be by finding the closest train station. There is always a route map to be found there as it is so common to take bikes by train to start a ride.

Doug is jealous of this guy's bangs.

Now it is wet gravel, almost mud but not quite.

Another couple that diverted from the route in Brugg to find lunch. They are from Biel and are just finishing a 3 week tour in Austria and the Czech Republic. They told us about a great little campground in Waldshut, just across the Rhein where the Aare River enters it and where we planned to end our day anyway.

Lots of birds to watch as the Aare gets wider and shallower.

The village blacksmith in steel.

Germany to the left....country #5...language #5, a new opportunity for menu surprises.

The border crossing......much faster by bike than it was for the cars because it there was so much traffic.... all those Swiss going to buy groceries in Germany.

The Rhein is looking pretty mighty already and we aren't that far from its headwaters.

Sunshine means laundry day. Lacking a handy tree the bike had to work overtime today.

The same area a few hours later. These are all bike or kayak tourers. It was one of the quietest campgrounds yet because we all went to bed by 10.