2008-04-27 12:16 PDT
Staying in Dillengen on the Danau at the oddly named Convikt Hotel.
No internet connection at this high end Gasthof. Only IE can be used to connect to their LAN.
Perfect weather Sunday, so the local bike paths were crowded with families and riders of all ages; very nice to see. Many were helpful with directions. Rode along the Danube on a road of smallish pebbles. Dry and bumpy for a dozen or so kms, then a portage around a water tower (dry portage this time). There is a pic of the trail and the river, could not be nicer.
The road continues and soon we are on the Kartoffel (Potato) Tour route 4. No indication why it was so named; no potatoes seen.
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Nordic walkers, many, on the path (pic).
Arrived at the town of Gunsberg, an oldish Bavarian town (we have left Bad-Wittenburg). The old town has been restored and now looks a bit like the Bath Crescent except with Bavarian architecture (pics).
Through the utterly charming, yet again, town of Lauingen. Then to the equally charming one of Dettingen. Two Baroqe churches here. Each more ornate than the other (yes they continue to get better with each visit). Heard groups singing in both and the acoustics are of the quality of Prague. Similar putti too.
Dinner was of the high end variety (pics) as the Gasthof has a fine restaurant. Garlic homemade green pasta with fruits d'mer, trout, large, with boiled potatoes and a very special appetizer of scallops with white asparagus (almost $20 for the appetizer).
General notes on the road:
Travels of other much more adventuresome cyclists we have met and had "conversations" with.
-couple about our ages, in town for a class in Feldenkreis: oh yes, road ahead is good, we biked here earlier today (we were finishing a long hill after taking two days to get to the same spot). When traveling they ride 120km plus per day and by their own admission see nothing. No looking at churches or landscape, just ride fast to get there. We met them about 5km out of town while they were walking in the hills. In six weeks they will take their vacation, a 2800km ride in three weeks – mostly in Holland and along the North Sea
-a retired bike designer living on a pension and non-compete. Bikes and camps full time. Seems to be on the road constantly. Girl friend from Luxemburg meeting him and then they will go together for a while. Oh yes, I biked across the US three times. I like the hills.
-young Swiss cyclist: and your trip? We are off to India. One year, then to Nepal and the Himalayas.
-Swabians as Scottish. While in a store looking around struck up a conversaton with the local shopkeeper. His English was better than mine so easy to converse. I purchased something and he said just put it in my pocket. I said he should not forget to charge me. Well, he explained, there was no chance of that. The Swabians are just like the Scots, maybe more so. Never forget a penny. That, and they have a dialect that only they can understand and prefer it that way. Very Scots like.
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