Good advice.

I wish I’d listened to #5. 😀

I can’t fix a chain. Nor am I carrying a link.

Almost ANYONE could get into multi-day cycling. So long as you can sit on a bicycle seat a few hours a day.

Sleep in a tent. Or in a hotel each night.

Some campgrounds in Germany have E-Bike charging stations.

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IF you were to try bikepacking, I’d recommend renting the bike for your first multi-day trip.

Europe is the easiest place to give it a go.

Chiemsee is a freshwater lake in Bavaria, often called “the Bavarian Sea”.

I took my bike on the train from Munich to Prein — and cycled the 54.7-km loop of the lake using AllTrails.

This area is super popular with tourists.

I saw thousands of other cyclists.

That said — it’s not a particularly interesting route. You only see the lake infrequently.

Trip report

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In 2023, I cycled the Danube — finishing in Lindau on Lake Constance.

I stored bike and gear with friends in Munich, returning 2024 to cycle the Rhine.

Got as far as Düsseldorf before diverting north towards Denmark.

I started in Lindau. The first of 5 drenching rainstorms over the next 2 weeks.

Mostly I followed the EuroVelo 15.

The river Rhine from source to sea is about 1368km. I probably did close to 1000km of that PLUS many side trips. No rush. About 2 weeks.

My biggest detour was over to the Black Forest for a couple of days.

Early in the trip, Rhine Falls (Rheinfalls) was a major highlight.

Germany is probably the best nation in the world right now for cycling. The Deutschland Rail ticket is still next to free in 2024, so I could hop local trains as needed.

I’d long wanted to visit Strasbourg, France. And it is great.

Of course I stop and click much old architecture. It’s evocative.

I often detoured to parks and botanical gardens.

There are a surprising number of ferries crossing the Rhine.

I was back and forth, both sides of the river.

Vineyards. Vineyards. Vineyards.

Campgrounds are plentiful and inexpensive along the river.

I only wild camped 3 times.

Many fish the Rhine. I assumed it would be fished out — until watching a father and son reel in this monster.

Another highlight was seeing castles up on high points above the river.

I can’t say much about the cuisine as I mostly ate my own food. Plenty of good bread, blue cheese, hummus.

Certainly Germany is one of the easiest places in the world for bikepacking.

The campgrounds have chargers for electric bikes !

I’m more than a little worried about Faroe Islands and Iceland …

… Coming up SOON.

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After being sternly advised NOT to go to the tourist trap of Titisee — I hopped on a train to Titisee. 😀

BUT like every tourist trap, IF you divert anywhere away from the tour buses, it’s lovely.

Titisee was a quick and convenient way for me to sidetrack from the Rhine River to visit the Black Forest — my first time.

To be honest, the hiking did not look all that spectacular. Cycling is better.

I opted to cycle around the lake, as everyone does in Germany.

Then headed out to Stage 4 of the Black Forest Panorama Cycle Path.

Over 2 days I did at least 100km in the Black Forest. Nice.

Wild camped.

Sadly, the final town no longer had a working train station. I scrambled, taking over 4 hours on three trains to get back to the Rhine. And into Strasbourg, France.

By coincidence, same day, France was playing Spain in sports ball … losing to Spain, 2-1.

My cycle touring began July 3, 2024.

Getting off the train from Munich in Lindau, I first cycled to Bregenz, Austria to test the bike with a full load.

NO PROBLEMS.

I’d read that the cycling north of the lake was more interesting than the south, so planned to put in another 40km on my first day.

BUT it rained hard. And was scheduled to rain until 9pm … so I checked into a hostel rather than camping.

Lindau is very pretty, even in the rain.

Cycling Europe I see a hundred interesting things a day.

For example, this water fountain in a hostel. Choose TAP or CARBONATED.

The main cycling route is great and (usually) easy to follow. I only share with motor vehicles about 25% of the time.

I was intrigued by Friedrichshafen.

The Zeppelin factory here, 1942 and 1945, used slave labor of hundreds of concentration camp prisoners from Dachau and Dora-Mittelbau.

Terrible history. But interesting tourist stop.

I’d planned to cycle around the lake into Switzerland — but by coincidence I rode up to the ferry one minute before it departed.

KARMA

Switzerland is far more expensive than Germany. Double the price for some things.

It’s more rural on the Swiss side of the lake. Many vineyards.

Finding no place to wild camp, I finally checked into a pretty campground on the lake.

Camping is highest priority for families with kids. A paradise here.

Like last year, there has been a lot of flooding in Germany.

Water is still very high.

Next day I rode on to Rhine Falls (Rheinfalls), Switzerland — the highlight, so far.

Wow.

Of these nations, the one that appeals to me most is Iran.

Second most … Turkey.

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