Visiting Karlsruhe, Germany

On July 14, 2024July 13, 2024 By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

I knew nothing of Karlsruhe before stopping here at a hostel on my Rhine cycling trip.

I’d gotten drenched wild camping the night before — my 4th tropical rain storm since arriving Germany.

When the lightning started, I quickly found this higher spot on the flood plain to set-up my tent. It WAS muddy.

HEY. In 1817, Karlsruhe-born Karl Freiherr Drais von Sauerbronn devised a brilliant invention – he developed the world’s first two-wheeler – called “Draisine” in his honour. The original can still be admired at the City Museum in Prince Max Palace.

The first ran on rails.

It’s considered the precursor to the modern bicycle.

Turns out Karlsruhe will be hosting the World Games in 2029. This is the Olympics for non-Olympic sports like Power Tumbling and Double-mini Trampoline.

Last event	2022 – Birmingham, Alabama, US
Next event	2025 – Chengdu, China

The city was planned with the palace tower (Schloss) at the center and 32 streets radiating out from it like the spokes of a wheel, or the ribs of a folding fan, so that one nickname for Karlsruhe in German is the “fan city” (Fächerstadt). Almost all of these streets survive to this day.

A nice stop. Very green. Plenty of parks to cycle.

Visiting Strasbourg, France

On July 12, 2024July 11, 2024 By Rick McIn travel1 Comment

Strasbourg is on the border with Germany in the historic region of Alsace. … It is the official seat of the European Parliament. …

The city is chiefly known for its sandstone Gothic Cathedral …

For me, this is the most impressive approach. From a narrow street.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

There’s much to see and do. But I only had time to cycle the many canals to and from the Rhine.

When I get to heaven, I expect every building to look something like Église de Tous-les-Saints.

I stopped by the European Parliament, wanting to consult with them on tourism: hiking and cycling.

Disappointingly, they wouldn’t even let me in the door. 😀

Irked, I put in at an appeal at the European Court of Human Rights — next door.

I’m expecting a prompt response. 😀

Cycling Lake Constance in Europe

On July 8, 2024July 8, 2024 By Rick McIn cycling, travelLeave a comment

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.

Rhine Falls (Rheinfalls), Switzerland

On July 6, 2024July 6, 2024 By Rick McIn travel2 Comments

The highlight of my Rhine river cycling tour — so far — has been the the most powerful waterfall in Europe.

The Rhine Falls (German: Rheinfall) are 150 metres (490 ft) wide and 23 metres (75 ft) high.

There are other highlights nearby, including the Wörth Castle (Swiss German: Schlössli Wörth) — BUT I couldn’t safely leave my bike and gear to visit those.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Off to Cycle the Rhine 🚴

On July 4, 2024July 3, 2024 By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, travel2 Comments

I picked up my bike in Munich. Friends had been storing it for me since LAST summer.

We had a great time. Several good meals. Plenty of wine. And one round of golf.

I’m planning to cycle the Rhine north through Germany ➙ Continue up to Denmark ➙ Ferry to the Faroe Islands ➙ And on to Iceland.

I’ll fly out of Reykjavík.

I’ll start in July 2024 where I quit cycling summer of 2023 — in beautiful Lindau on Lake Constance, Germany.

… I want to get back to this kind of shape. 6 foot, 3 inches. 215 pounds. 😀

I’ll mostly be riding the Eurovela 15 – Rhine Cycle Route.

As the Deutschland Rail ticket is still next to free in 2024, I’ll hop local trains as needed in Germany.

At some point I’ll leave the river and head for the Danish border. Likely joining the Eurovela 12, the North Sea Cycle Route

I must reach the north tip of Denmark to catch my long scheduled ferry to the Faroe Islands.

Farewell Austria – Leaving Salzburg

On June 30, 2024June 30, 2024 By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

Of the 4 largest cities in Austria, Salzburg is easily my favourite.

This time I walked several times through high parklands above town. Up on these cliffs.

There are surprisingly few people up there.

And great vistas, of course.

The old town is great.

But there are many modern touches, as well.

All that said — I much prefer Germany to Austria. 😀

Visiting Kitzbühel, Austria

On June 29, 2024June 27, 2024 By Rick McIn hiking, travelLeave a comment

You’ll already know the name Kitzbühel as a legendary winter sports resort,

The famous Hahnenkamm mountain above Kitzbühel, where every January the world’s best downhill skiers race for World Cup glory. Many consider it the most challenge course on the circuit.

I went to hike down that famed slope. Over 1200m. … I took a cable car up. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Crazy Canucks Tod Brooker and Ken Read won here.

The town itself is not particularly gorgeous when compared against other famed ski villages.

But I still enjoyed it.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I slept in a Vienna IKEA

On June 22, 2024June 21, 2024 By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

Jo&Joe Hostel in Vienna is housed in the 5th and 6th floors of an IKEA store at the West Train Station.

You can walk back and forth between the hostel and the 4th floor IKEA restaurant level. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Visiting Bratislava, Slovakia

On June 20, 2024June 20, 2024 By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

This man at work — Čumil — is just as much a symbol of this city as the Castle. 😀

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. Close to Vienna. Both on the beautiful Danube.

I’d cycled many days along the Danube in 2023.

The best way there is by ferry between Vienna and Bratislava.

I tried and failed to cycle to Devín Castle, from Bratislava. I would have been forced on to a narrow, busy road.

BUT here it is from the ferry.

Most of the tourists in Bratislava come from Czech Republic, Germany, and Austria. It’s mostly ignored by the rest of the world.

We visit the Old Town, admiring historic architecture including baroque palaces.

Bratislava Castle

One of the most prominent structures in the city is Bratislava Castle close to the UFO Bridge.

UFO Bridge

There’s a restaurant up in the UFO. The best vista in town.

Harkening back to the old Soviet Union days there is plenty of what I always refer to as rectal-linear architecture.

The highlight for me was Slavín. A memorial monument and military cemetery remembering thousands of Soviet Army soldiers who fell during World War II while taking over the city in April 1945 from the NAZIs.