Riding in the Schwäbische Alb of Germany
Looking back from the top of the first climb
Heading down towards Germany
Looking back in the middle of the last climb on B 314
Life was better after B 314 ended at B 27. Then I rode north, through Zollhaus, to a truck stop next to L 185. I had been riding for two hours and I was hungry! I didn't have any food with me and all the towns I rode through seemed to be closed, so that truck stop was very important. I got a liter of yogurt drink, an ice cream bar, and two soft pretzels to take with me. Then I rode east on L 185 which was flat to slightly down hill. When I reached the end of B 314, I had climbed about 550 M of the days 750 M, so climbing wasn't a big deal for the remaining 45 miles. Late in the day, heading north from Fridingen an der Donau on L 440, headwinds were a problem, but, in the middle of the day, riding was pretty easy except for some places with too much traffic. I solved that problem, for a while, by riding on the Donau Radweg!
My first crossing of the Danube today, right after I got on B 113 - the sky was dripping a bit
A typical rider on the Donau Radweg, and the red poppies I love
The Danube has a pretty impressive gorge east of Muhlheim an der Donau
Before I got the Donau Radweg, I had to get to Tuttlingen. That involved riding on L 185 to B 113 and then riding B113 into Tuttlingen. Unlike Switzerland where you have to guess what road you are on and where it might go, German roads are well signed. Once I made it to B 27, I was able to follow signs the rest of the way to Tuttlingen.
Here is the sign at the intersection of B 27 and L 185
Those blue things are autoroute symbols
The stuff in the center of the image is the truck stop
On the radweg, looking at Muhlheim an der Donau
Riding out of Fridingen an der Donau on L 440
The lean angle on his bike appeared to exceed 45 degrees. Impressive, but when you are peacefully cranking along at 12 mph on a quiet road and something large and loud flies by a foot or so away a 100 mph, it is unnerving. While the rider was very good and was obviously having a good time playing with his toy, I wish, for the sake of my serenity < grin > , they would enforce the laws for motorcyclists in Europe!
Although L 440 is a very beautiful road, I soon got tired of riding uphill into headwinds. So, since I only needed a short ride today, I started looking for a place to stop. There were several towns without a place, and one town with a place where no one responded to my knock on the door. I was psychologically ready to get off the road, but still grinding on into the wind. That was not fun. Finally, almost through Tieringen, my last hope before what looks like a good climb, I saw an open Gasthous. The Greek owner, with little English, and I, with little German, determined that I would take a basic room for 25 E including breakfast. It has no toilet, but it does have a sink and a shower. It is pretty basic, but I think I will sleep well tonight. I'm high enough up that the night should be cooler after the sun goes down. Right now the sun is beating into my room because of a broken shutter. If that shutter worked, it would be fine in here now, as it is, I'll go to sleep when the sun goes down and get up when it comes up!
I had a large beer and a large Gyro supper tonight, which I finished with a small glass of ouso. Nice, and it only cost about 10 E. This day, with snacks, lunch, dinner, bed, and breakfast, will cost less than 45 E. Not bad, especially now that the dollar is back close to parity with the Euro.
I did sleep well. I didn't even stay up till dark. As soon as the sun went behind the hills - 8:30? - I was in bed, and I got up at 6:30. Breakfast was good and now I'm getting ready to head for Magstadt, where I'll be staying with a friend for a few days before heading southeast to Slovenia. The weather is overcast again today, and I hope I don't get rained on!