Europe2025 Part3 cycling 🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️

Cycling tour 2025 Day 1. We cycled along the Main River from Hanau to Freuedenberg (90km🚲). Beautiful landscapes and route. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

The last 2 hours it was pouring with rain. ⛈️. We were wet and cold. Luckily the rain stopped shortly after we arrived at the campsite and we could pitch our tent.⛺️ Enjoy a delicious dinner 😋cooked on our little Jetboil gas stove🫕 with a good bottle of Italian wine. 🍷And then we had a good night's sleep 😴 I would like to think, well deserved 😀

https://www.komoot.com/tour/2435987238?ref=avs&share_token=ayMCxXeQ89dDB3YFgfYupvDeO3F3sSHAMjRh2gH82Dq5YN8Kt3

Overnight ⛺️ http://www.seecamping-freudenberg.de/

One could so camp at verwaltung@camping-mainparksee.de which is anout 30km from Hanau. 

Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲Day 2. We cycled along the River Main  Freuedenberg (85km🚲) to the confluence of the  Main & Tauber Rivers at Wertheim. From there via the Tauber Valley to Bad Mergentheim

Beautiful landscapes dotted with 🌽 and wheat 🍞 &  sunflower 🌻 fields. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

We had some rain on they way. ⛈️.  Luckily the rain stopped shortly after we arrived at the campsite and we could pitch our tent.⛺️ Enjoy a delicious Spätzle  😋cooked on our little Jetboil gas stove🫕 with 🥗 & a good bottle of Austrian wine 🍷. And then we had a good night's sleep 😴 I would like to think, well deserved 😀

Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/IfTXE1xwmVb

Overnight ⛺️ Natur Campingplatz Bad Mergentheim

Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲Day 3. We cycled from Bad Mergentheim to Olenhausen, along the  Jagst & Kocher Rivers (50km)

Beautiful landscapes dotted with 🌽 and wheat 🍞 &  sunflower 🌻 fields. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

We had quite a lot of rain on the way. ⛈️. It gave me the opportunity to wear my new orange rain jacket 🧡 rain 💦🥳

The rain gave us a window of time, stopped for a short while, after we arrived at the campsite, and we could pitch our tent.⛺️ Fortunately there was an area under a roof where we could pitch our tent since it poured with rain during the night.💦 🌙 

We wanted to go for dinner in town since we knew groceries stores are closed on Sundays.  We discovered that there is no restaurant in Olenhausen. However, we were blessed by a kind lady, Inge (88 years young)

She walked passed the campsite and just came to say hello and started talking to me. I asked her where the closest restaurant is. Then she told us, there is no restaurant in town. She then said I should come with her. We sat down on her patio and some of the local people joined us. and  had a lovely conversation. I enjoyed  the time with the people of Olenhausen. I was so glad that I can speak 🇩🇪 😀

Inge gave us some bread 🍞 , tin of meat and fresh tomatoes 🍅 from her garden. It was extra delicious and tasty since she gave it with  love! 🧡 

To top a lovely evening was the arrival of André & Jean O'Kennedy at the Campsite. And we enjoyed a good German beer 🍺 together 🥳

And then we had a good night's sleep 😴 

Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/4t9swMOeZVb

Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Cycle 🚲Tour DAY 4 We cycled from Olenhausen to Neckarsulm (50km) mostly along the Jagst River. 

Our route took us via the industrial city of 

Bad Friedrichshall where the Kocher & Jagst rivers flow into the Neckar. 

A visit to the Salzbergwerk in Bad Friedrichshall, a functioning rock salt mine, offers a unique glimpse into the world of mining, with its rich history and modern-day operations. 

During World War II, the salt mine was converted into a production factory for aircraft engines, employing forced laborers.

The three-river landscape is unique & beautiful. The route was dotted with Spinach 🥬, maize 🌽 wheat 🍞 & sunflowers 🌻 fields. 

The sunshine 🌞 day was rounded off with delicious Schwäbische Maultaschen ( a fine pasta dough with a filling of minced pork & spinach)  😋 & a good Spätburgunder from the area 🍷

Another lovely day😀🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♀️

Overnight ⛺️

Camper Chill Corner in Reisachsmühle

Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/IcAAHMz7vVb

https://www.komoot.com/tour/2443791926?ref=avs&share_token=a6vGFrob9dlO4amT6aOKlQ31WY3R0CV5KT7csjtbL0G5nzOFVn

Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲Day 5. We cycled from Neckarsulm to  Stuttgart and along the Neckar. (84km)

Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲Day 5. We cycled from to Neckarsulm to Stuttgart along the Neckar River.

We cycled through the beautiful university town of Heilbron. We very very impressed with the Experimenta Science Center, Germany's largest science center.

On the way Vineyards are planted on steeps hills, some planted like checker boards.  As well as Beautiful landscapes dotted with Spinach 🥬, pumpkin 🎃, tomatoes   🍅, 🌽 wheat 🍞 & sunflowers 🌻 fields.

The cycle ride took much longer  than expected due a number of detours where paths were blocked. We had an appointment with friends in Stuttgart and we came terribly late. They planned a very interesting & lovely afternoon for us but we arrived too late.

Luckily we could still join them for dinner. We went to a  "gemütlichen" tradional wine house, Die Kiste. We had  delicious "Schwäbisches" food and great company.

Typical Schwäbische food includes  Spätzle, Maultaschen (the schwäbische Version of Ravioli) , roasted potatoes etc. Kartoffeln und Kraut beinhalten.

A wonderful evening, delicious food 😋 and good local wine. We enjoyed Spätburgunderfrom the region🍷 And fantastic to spend time with dear friends It was a heart warming evening.🤗

Then back to the campsite to pitch our tent, make our beds and  we had a good night's sleep 😴  Another lovely day😀

Sunshine day !☀️ 🌞 Thoroughly enjoyed it

Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/S8ExDaLGrVb

Overnight ⛺️  Canstatter Wasen  Stuttgart

Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲 Day 6.  We cycled from Stuttgart along the Neckar River to the beautiful university city of Tübingen (73km)

It rained 💦💦 most of the day. It was a bit difficult to take photos on the way due to rain. However, I was happy to wear my new bright orange rain jacket🧡😀. 

As we arrived in Tübingen, the rain stopped and it was an absolutely delightful evening in Tübingen.

A friend of us, Eberhardt, who lives close by, met us in Tübingen and took us on a walking tour through this beautiful old city. It was very interesting to learn more about this lovely city.

We ended the evening in a cosy restaurant which serves typical Schwäbian food. A wonderful evening, great company, delicious food 😋 and good local wine. We enjoyed Grauburgunder from the region🍷 What a privelege to spend time with a very special person.

The previous evening, our friends gave us a gift 🎁 🤗💕 Eberhardt saw that it will be raining a lot the next day and night and decided to surprise us & spoil us, with a night in a cosy little hotel in Tübingen. 💫🌟 🌙 We were blown away! 

So, at the end of a special day, there was no need to pitch our tent ⛺️  and  we could enjoy a cosy and dry night under roof😴,  followed by a delicious breakfast the next morning😀

Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/mna5jydjFVb

Overnight ⛺️  We planned to stay at Camping Tübingen Neckarcamping. 

Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲Day 7  We cycled from Tübingen along the Neckar Tal Cycle route to Obendorf (59km)

This morning we enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast at the hotel. It was delicious! 🥐🧀🍓

Beautiful route! Lots of apple trees on the way🍎🍏🌳

Pitched our tent ⛺️ and rounded of the day with a delicious salad 🥗 Fried Camembert 🧀 & a good bottle of Spanish Rioja wine🍷before a good night's sleep 😴 

Overnight ⛺️  Obendorf  

Miniinfo@krokodil-oberndorf.de

Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/U8filCUxIVb

https://www.komoot.com/tour/2451992854?ref=aso

Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲Day 8  We cycled from Obendorf to Bad Duerheim-Sunthausen (53.5km)

We continued along the Neckartal Cycle route for most of the day. We cycled through lovely forest areas.🌳🌲🌳 Beautiful landscapes, lots of wheat 🍞, sunflowers 🌻 and also pumpkin 🎃 on the way.

Overnight ⛺️  http://www.campingplatz-bad-duerrheim.de/

Rain was predicted for the night. We luckily discovered a small area under a roof at the almost "not used" area of the campsite. We cleaned it and pitched our tents under the roof. Found a table and chairs and had a lovely dinner at the table. We enjoyed Gnocci with salad 🥗 and a good bottle of Italian Nebbiolo 🍷. 

 

We enjoyed a good night's sleep 😴 and stayed dry in spite of pouring rain. 

Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/9FTL6rPoNVb

https://www.komoot.com/tour/2454337078?ref=avs&share_token=a1iyBXWaIrvUZlg8y9C822qaqfLJDHlwRI39khmYWoGyLnJTws

Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲Day 9  We cycled from Bad Dürrheim -Sunthausen to Böhringen  (52.7km) close to the Bodensee.

We cycled via beautiful areas. Through a part of the Black Forest🌲🌳🌲  and crossed the Donau River. Fields of  wheat 🍞, maize 🌽 sunflowers 🌻 on the way.

We also cycled passed the " Test- und Technologiezentrum von Mercedes-Benz" 🚘 

A Swiss 🇨🇭 friend of us, Lilo, drove from her home close to Zurich with her campervan 🚚 to spend time with us. Her campervan is equipped with everything you possibly can desire when you camped. Even a  "coffee-machine"☕️

When we got to the campsite, Lilo was already there. She welcomed us with delicious cappuccino's☕️ which she made in her campervan. It was wonderful to meet her again. 

Lilo treated us with cheese fondue for dinner🫕 🧀🇨🇭😋. We really digged in! It is one of my favorite meals! 😋😋 AND she baked a delicious Zwetschgenwähe Torte 🥧😋 for desert. Absolutely delicious! Dinner was complimented with a good dry 🇨🇭 cold Swiss white wine 🥂 

It rained the whole evening but luckily her campervan had a  veranda and we cuddled up underneath the "roof" ☔️

It was an absolutely delightful evening with dear friends and delicious food!

Late afternoon we did have small period when there was no rain so we could pitch our tents ⛺️ We ad a good cosy nights sleep😴 and stayed dry with only the lovely sound of rain. 

Overnight ⛺️  Camp Böhringen

Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/hYJX41JJQVb

https://www.komoot.com/tour/2456345376?ref=aso

Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲Day 10  We cycled from Böhringen to Rheinau which is close to the Rhine falls in Schaffhausen (57.5km) 

Our route took us all along the Bodensee and the river Rhine. Absolutely amazing, passing vineyards 🍇🍷 planted on steep slopes, apple orchards🍎🍏, fields of beetroot🫜 pumpkin 🎃, and cabbage🥬 on the way.

Stein am Rhein is a beautiful town. Wished we could have spent more time there!

Our usual picnic lunch was on the banks of the Rhine at Diessenhofen

Our last stop en route was for a spectacular view of the  Rhine Falls.

South African friends who live in Switzerland 🇨🇭 invited us to stay with them in Rheinau. We were welcomed with great cuppachinos ☕️and very tasty biscuits.🥯 I forgot the name of the biscuits.😗 Need to ask them again. It was lovely sitting in their garden, in the sun! 🌞 just chatting and catching up whilst sipping on our cuppachinos and eating the lekker /leckeren biscuits 😋

They live a few hundred meters from the Rhine. Towards the late afternoon, we walked down to the Rhine and enjoyed a lovely swim 🏊‍♂️  It was great!!

The evening we spent around their table chatting, catching up, enjoying delicious food & sipping on good wine 🍷was delightful! 

After dinner, they took us back to the Rhine Falls. With very few visitors at that stage, we could get close to the falls and appreciate the power of the water. This was an unforgettable experience!!

Then overnight ⛺️  stay with our friends in Rheinau.

Logistically we were extremely grateful for this haven where we could dry our tents after the soaking rain the previous night,  wash and dry our washing, and enjoy their wonderful hospitality. And of course....no need to pitch a ⛺️ 😀

Michael Appelt creates wonderul music. You simply have to listen to it. Check it out:

"I created a new professional account for my #podcast and #videocast endeavors. Follow me over there if you like to stay in the loop! The link to get to it is: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093429871839 "

Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/DDiFO72YTVb

https://www.komoot.com/tour/2459957706?ref=avs&share_token=ad6jE4rnvqYdfovhg8TUMK73USiUCKgWwBCMOwCMwenSGwI3J2