26 Aug 2011 Nesselwang to Outside Hergatz (90 km) The three H’s of bicycle touring that one wants to avoid: Hills, Heat, and Headwinds. Today we had all three, bringing about the fourth H of bike touring that one also wants to avoid: Hergatz. Hergatz, Germany, that is. Hergatz is the place you see on …
25 Aug 2011 Lermoos, Austria to Nesselwang, Germany (50 km) As we climbed on board, her strong (a.k.a., loud) American accent bellowed “Now THIS is a TRAIN!” No matter that people were now staring. Gina was beyond excited that we had just boarded a train with our loaded bikes with a simple push of a …
24 Aug 2011 Lermoos (10 km around the valley) Now that the blown out shoe is repaired, it occurred to us (well, actually Gina, despite the fact that I am the default bike mechanic, which mostly means that I’m the one who grew up around mechanics so is expected to have some of their skills …
23 Aug 2011 Saulgrub to Lermoos (64 km) Instead of a tire, we blew out a shoe. Gina’s shoe, to be exact. Gina’s biking shoe that is 12 years old. Gina’s biking shoe that I suggested she replace before this six-plus week cycling trip but was met with a stony stare, the kind that turns …
22 Aug 2011 Marktoberdorf to Saulgrub (71 km) Gabby wins the Hostess with the Mostest award thus far on our trip. Owner of the Cafe-Hotel we stayed at in Marktoberdorf last night, she couldn’t seem to get enough of helping us, like a border collie puppy following us around looking for a job to do. …
21 Aug 2011 Isny im Allgau to Marktoberdorf (75 km) After spending the past six hours pedaling hard under the burning sun, the only thing either of us wanted was a cold, icy Coke. But it being Sunday and all, every town we’ve ridden through has its sidewalks rolled up. There ain’t nothing happenin’ in …
20 Aug 2011 Nonnenhorn to Isny im Allgau (61 km) We both heard it and Gina also felt it. Shoot. After countless kilometers logged on our European cycling tours, this afternoon our luck ran out as quickly as the air in Gina’s back tire. She had a flat and it was a loud one, the …
18 and 19 Aug 2011 Unteruhldingen to Nonnenhorn (41 km) and Off Day (17 km) He was cycling toward us with a smile and from our lakeside park bench, we knew it was him. Yudi, Hello! And 20 seconds behind him, there she was too, that familiar face and voice, looking, like her husband, even …
17 Aug 2011 Tengen to Unteruhldingen (80 km) I have spent most of our cycling days on this trip so far in my little ring up front (translation: Granny Gear). Until today. Finally, long downhill stretches out of the hill towns toward the flat cycling along the Bodensee. Finally, we cycled with the river flow …
16 Aug 2011 Rottweil to Tengen (77 km) Someone was tired on the bike today and didn’t say much, which is completely out of character for her. Now the other someone is tired tonight and has few words to type, which is somewhat out of character for her. I guess you could say we tuckered …