EUROPE - 2019 - DAY 40

DAY 40 - JULY 20 - OBERAU to BRANNENBURG

It was another beautiful, but not easy day, through Bavaria's farmlands, forests, and nice little towns on mostly traffic free paved paths. In fact, only about 6 miles on regular roadways (until I got lost, near the very end).

One of the highlights was my visit up the cobbled main road of Bad Tolz. The artistic buildings lining the street just had me staring in wonder. More info here; 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Tölz

One unusual thing happened. I actually had a reservation in the tiny village of Litzldorf. Apparently they made a mistake on the day and there was no room at the inn! The proprietress not only got me another hotel, but paid me the difference in price, and served me a beer in the garden restaurant while I waited. 

Hence I ended up in the nice town of Brannenburg, which was about 6 kilometers away. The next day was forecast for rain, which it did most of the morning, so Day 41 became a rest day.

Route;

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3865352130

Relive;

https://www.relive.cc/view/g37717742983

Pictures;

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx238kh0pIUwWmkEkK?e=FVx6G5

EUROPE - 2019 - DAY 39

DAY 39 - JULY 19 - SULZBURG to OBERAU

Like yesterday, a very pleasant excursion on segregated paved paths through very bucolic and forested areas. There was one lake I biked along called Lechsee and there were some nice river views as well. 

A bunch of very small towns until the beautiful, touristy, and busy Oberammergau. Shortly thereafter I went through Ettal and this giant, awe inspiring abbey grabs your attention. It is my last photo of the day. For more info;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ettal_Abbey

This was shortly followed by a sweeping thousand foot drop down to my destination of Oberau.

Route;
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3861337768

Relive;

https://www.relive.cc/view/g37660475275

Pictures;
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx22ENxwlR9X13Kyqy?e=PvepfE

EUROPE - 2019 - DAY 38

DAY 38 - JULY 18 - SULZBERG, GERMANY

A rest day. I was not in the heart of Sulzberg, but on the edge of town, and I did manage to get some blogging done and took a walk to the only area of interest (and close by).

There is an old shell of a castle that provided some views of the surrounding countryside and some of the more interesting goats that I have ever seen. 

Pictures;
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx21GchQSCzXdDG1dF?e=YtLqWq

EUROPE - 2019 - DAY 37

DAY 37 - JULY 17 - DORNBIRN to SULZBERG

During my night in Dornbirn, Austria, I was struck by how lumpy the map was looking in Austria. I wasn't going to, but I decided to head for southern Germany. First down to Bregenz, Austria, on the very large Lake Constance or Bodensee in German. It is a nice resort town and the place was humming. It is a transportation hub also and there were many bicycle tourists. Check out that modern looking tour boat. (I think it was a tour boat). If interested;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Constance

Continuing around the lake a bit and then off into Germany. So far, in every country border that I have crossed not one "Welcome To" sign. Maybe that is just an American state thing. 

I hardly had to ride near any vehicles in this part of Germany. Most of the highways had completely separate paved trails next to the road and then there were many of these one lane, also paved trails, through farmlands and forests. Everything was in great shape as well. There were a few steep pitches, but I wasn't in the alps. (Actually part of the Bavarian Alps).

Some small nice towns along the way and finally my destination of Sulzberg. The last picture was my hotel. So nice, I decided to stay two nights.

Route;
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3854766582

Relive;
https://www.relive.cc/view/g37561417063

Pictures;
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx2zvapIYLPCqj_qp8?e=bT2yZ5https://1drv.ms/u/s!

EUROPE - 2019 - DAY 36

DAY 36 - JULY 16 - NAFELS to DORNBIRN

A bluebird day as I climbed out of the valley where I was in Nafels, and the views looking back were enough to write home about. Over the hill, the Walensee came into view and you couldn't help but smile. I don't think the scenery will get better than this. A big drop down to the Walensee and a great separate bikeway for most of it's length.

Today I was in 3 different countries and got a bit of a geography lesson. After Sargans and about half way into my ride for the day, I came to the Rhine River. This river is the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Both sides of the Rhine have a built-up levee with a very nice paved trail on both sides. I chose the Liechtenstein side. 

It was long and flat, but good views of the mountains. One picture is of the Vaduz Castle;
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaduz_Castle

Toward the end of the day, I veered off to my hotel destination in Dornbirn, Austria.

Route;

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3851341783

Relive;
https://www.relive.cc/view/g37512543845

Pictures;
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx2xiqHvg9Pgmrnxhc?e=aB6rn4

EUROPE - 2019 - DAY 35

DAY 35 - JULY 15 - ZUG to NAFELS

It rained overnight in Zug and the day remained mostly cloudy, but no rain, lucky me. After a climb out of Zug, I went around the Agerisee, then through Sattel, Rothenthurm, Pfaffikon, and across the Obersee, which is the eastern part of Lake Zurich. 

On the other side is Rapperswil with it's imposing 13th century castle;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapperswil_Castle

Later through some flat, one lane farm roads into a valley, and my overnight stay at a very nice sports complex / hotel called the Linth Arena in Nafels.

Route;

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3847806495

Relive;
https://www.relive.cc/view/g37461175193

Pictures;
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx2wW851W4cJ88N3QK?e=UmVsOw

EUROPE - 2019 - DAY 34

DAY 34 - JULY 14 - MEIRINGEN to ZUG

Switzerland has designated various bicycle routes throughout the country. I am more or less following the "Lakes" route. Sometimes the route is a little overly zealous in wanting to avoid highways and takes a bicycle rider over some very steep and gravel trails. I spend a lot of time trying to avoid these. But I digress....

I finally left Meiringen after a 4 night stay. Shortly the road turned upward steeply over Brunig Pass, just over 3,000 feet. The view from the top looking down over one of the lakes, Lungersee, was stunning.

Along the north side of Sarnesee and through Sarnen and later through Lucerne which sits on the western edge of Lake Lucerne. Finally to Zug, which sits on, (you might have guessed it), the Zugersee.

Route;
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3844666103

Relive;
https://www.relive.cc/view/g37412318135

Pictures;
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx2mVHTDNTxWF8glHf?e=4jq0Ha