Friday, Pat & Di went down to Andermatt to sort out insurance stuff, ship her bike home and generally get sorted. We wanted to trek to the source of the Rhine and when Pat said they would not be back before 3, Gilly and I decided to go by ourselves. It was a serious walk, no stroll in the park, OK for the first half but straight up for 1000ft for the last part. Although it was a path it became very steep and rough walking. I had decided to wear teva's and when we got to the source a Swiss guy in full mountain kit sort of gave me a bollocking - tough us English I said. Tomasee is a high mountain lake from which a stream emerges and drops steeply into the valley. It was that valley we were to folliw on Saturday. We arrived back at our hostel 5 hours later knackeroonied - tougher than we had thought.
Saturday and we got our bikes out. We planned to do the steep downhill followed by the major (1000ft) climb of the whole trip. Down for 40km, wet roads to start but dried out lower doan, passed the highest golf course in Europe, through fantastic mountains gaining speed with increased confidence in our loaded bikes. Stopped for lunch to refuel before the climb. Then it started - up, more up then steeper up. Round fantastic gorges, crossing cascading steams filling the Rhine. Our sweat could have caused flooding down the valley. Legs aching, Gilly was fading and we found a watering hole. Great. Di had travelled the route by luxury train, had arrived in Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland and booked a hotel in the old quater. Great, having got navigationally challenged in the pedestrian area where it was, we eventually arriveed at 1900 - a long 10 hour day.
Chur. Distance: 86.47km a big day in the saddle!
Sunday was the cycling we had paid for - flat, following wind, cycle track with no traffic and right beside the Rhine. Bigger river now, fast flowing and still in the Mountains. We crossed to the east bank to cycle in Lichtentein, rich, small and hilly. Back to the Swiss side and fatigue began to set in. A thunderstorm errupted having been gathering for an hour or more, luckily we sheltered in a very smelly hay barn. We found a hotel enroute and called it a day.
Oberriet. Distance: 68.34km. Odo 154.81
Monday. Our route took us away from the Rhine into farms and rural countryside but good cycling. We had decided to have a shorter day to recover and i have alwzys found that day 3 of any exped is the hardest. We were heading for Lake Constance or the Bodensee. We were planni g to cycle the north shore although the official Rhine route takes you south. The 'book' says this is the most popular part of the Rhine route for young and old. Thoughts of overtakes loomed. However everyone seems to have electrically assisted bikes - we have no chance, then a group of arrogant, German men of 60+ overtook us just as we started off after a drink stop. They were slightly slower than us, Gilly was leading, i was second and I could see her gathering her loins and she launc
We are now in a pleasant hotel in Nonnenhom, Germany on the North Shore. Good day. I have issues with my brakes - BA were rough with tham, buckled back wheel and buckled front and rear brake discs - my bike had been dropped and dragged - a bit pissed off to put it mildly.
Distance 53.76. Odo 208.58
Our original plan was to average 80km per day, Pat & I in our new sleek bodies could probably manage this but it is probably too ambitious for the group, maybe 65km per day may be realistic. This would put us a few days later at the ferry in Hoek van Holland. All's well and it should be a great trip - let's hope the weather holds. Yeah!
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