After a pleasant week’s pedalling south east from Paris, we have reached Switzerland via a 200yd stretch of Germany.
We followed the wonderful EuroVelo 6 cycle route for much of the way – traffic free, smooth ground, flat following a river and railway line, and with regular picnic benches which make all the difference at the end of the day. We’ve wild camped every night although it’s never been particularly wild.
We’ve just had a “rest day” in Basel/Bale, a city that spans three countries. It’s largely involved rushing around town on errands – finding gas for the stove, getting wifi access, receiving more vaccination jabs and doing washing – but at least it was a day off for the knees (save for the 15km to, from and around town).
And next? Les Alpes.
We’re following another EuroVelo route although we expect it to be largely on roads so not quite as luxurious. As you read this we will be approaching our first alpine pass at 600-metres on our way to Aarau then on Friday and Saturday we have the big one: 2,100m up past Andermatt.
Wish us luck!
7 Comments
Najeeb Ahmed Khan
You lucky man, I wish you good luck
Najeeb Khan
Himalayan Holidays (Pvt) Lt
Islamabad Pakistan
Tim Moss
Thanks Najeeb.
Tom Kelly
Hi Tim and Laura
What a fantastic journey you have undertaken. I rode my beloved Ridgeback Panorama from Wigan to Fethiye, on the South coast of Turkey, last year. I went a totally different route through Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria and into Turkey. I have looked at your route and it seems you may go through Kesan in Northern Turkey. I stayed at a friendly little hotel there named Linda. It is on a major cross roads. I doubt you will miss it. You will then continue East to Istanbul. I went South from there.
I am so jealous and will be following your blog and on twitter.
Best Wishes
Tom Kelly
Tim Moss
Thanks Tom. Great to hear from another Panorama user. That’s quite a trip! We’ll keep our eyes out for Linda…
andrei
Good luck mates. Have a pleasent riding. One question about EuroVelo 6, is it all tarmac, or you get some gravel/mud? Thanks and cheers again
Tim Moss
The bit we cycled was all tarmac I think. Maybe some very short sections of good quality unsealed road but plenty of fast road bikes used it.
Tim Moss
Stunning indeed Christine. Arrived this afternoon. A EuroVelo 6 project sounds brilliant. I’m not sure we’ll find any cycle routes as good as that one again.