The simple things. Human-powered propulsion. Two-wheeled exploration. Long quiet miles. Bike love. The past two months have been blessed with extended days in the saddle spent pedaling around in circles.

Slovenia

Eight days in Slovenia doing a bike loop created by daily decisions. Started near Kranska Gora, spent a couple nights around Lake Bled, couple more at Bohinjsko, several days along the Soča River, and a few hours riding through Italy to complete the route. Lush valleys with all-time views of snow-capped peaks lining the distance. Big climbs, steep descents, back roads, bike paths, and a couple train assists. Lots of sunshine and one full day of rain. Hearty local fare and too many (no choice but) pizzas to count. Dobri dnevi!

Ulm

Spent an evening riding along the Danube and around Ulm on the way back home from Slovenia. Birthplace of Einstein and home to the tallest church steeple in the world.

Vulkan-Express

Fun little day trip with one-way ride support from an old diesel locomotive. Enjoyable putter up a big hill in the well-kept old passenger cars and a great gravel route back down to the Rhine.

Bodensee

Four-day circumnavigation of the Bodensee and beyond. Spent an evening riding around Worms on the way down south. Started and ended the bike loop in Konstantz on the German side. Route cruises through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and in and out of lots of neat little ‘beach’ towns and historic sites. Made it around the big lake, then along the lower lake, and finally to Rhine Falls before hopping a quick ride back on the train. Photos are scarce for this one and the rest because, really, there’s only so many photos of people riding bikes next to beautiful scenery that a person can take (not to mention subject others to).

Tour de Ahrtal

Slim pickin’ for photos of this one but deserves a mention for sure. Not too far from our house there was a local event a couple weeks ago where they closed down 50km of highway to host a day of biking! Each little town along the route had a small festival going on with beer, bands, BBQs, and homemade cakes. There were checkpoints along the way where you could get a mark on your punchcard and later enter it for a big drawing if you had visited at least four of the 20 sites. It was a super fun day and probably the most enjoyable event (out of all the Christmas markets, festivals, etc.) I’ve done since being here.

Schwarzwald

Finally made it to the fabled Black Forest last weekend. Triberg, Germany’s highest waterfall, world’s biggest and smallest cuckoo clocks, Black Forest cake, and lots of straight ups and straight downs. Will call it a scouting trip for the next time as my favorite tailgater had to unexpectedly head back stateside the day before. Sweaty solo rides up some of the steepest climbs I’ve ever ridden under the searing heat of the most recent (and reportedly most fierce) European heatwave to date. Rough! Good times on the last day, however, with happy laps around the Schluchsee and a few liters of the local Rothaus brew to celebrate the Solstice.

Still hangin’ in there… Thanks for reading and hoping you’re out biking around with a big smile on your face as well! Macht’s gut!