Settling into the cycle touring vibe

September 18, 2024

Borders? What borders?

Day 3: Overnight stay in Stein am Rhein, day trip to Rhine Falls, 50 km + boat trip.

Warm sunny day.

A lovely ride out, complete with a typical $15 round of coffee at a nice waterfront patio. While there a young girl rode by on her own, maybe 3 years old, navigating between people in the pedestrian area. She stopped at a bicycle repair station and confidently began to pump up her tires. Eventually her Mom casually strolled up.

We used mostly bike paths and quiet roads, and some forest roads.

We took a quick detour through a covered bridge into Switzerland for a few minutes, and back. This is where we saw evidence of a border with a sign and a small closed office on one side.

The covered bridge viewed from our coffee stop. Gailingen am Hochrhein Germany (right) to Diessenhofen Switzerland.

Covered bridge from Gailingen am Hochrhein Germany (left) to Diessenhofen Switzerland

Evidence of a border! In Diessenhofen. We couldn’t understand the sign so we just carried on.

We walked through the bridge, to enjoy it more and to avoid the cars in the single lane.

We had a tourist boat ride out to the Rhein Falls which was fine. Touristy of course, but still fun. I was surprised that there was no safety discussion nor visible life jackets.
We live near Niagara Falls which we see often, but can still appreciate these falls.

The flat-hulled river boat we used to get to the tiny island dividing the falls.

On the way back we opted to make our way on the left bank of the Rhein, all in Switzerland, instead of how we came. It was different but not as nice. We did see lots of market garden farms with lettuce and vegetables, but why is hard to find them in restaurants!?!

We hardly notice when we pass between independent Switzerland and EU Germany today, six times. There are no checkpoints, few signs, and only the closed office. Strange.

Lots of unmarked border crossings today. One section of Germany (DEU) is totally surrounded by Switzerland (CHE).

Back in Stein am Rhein we had a patio beer, and then had a good take out dinner on a bench by the water, complete with supermarket beers. Classy! When we asked the cashier at the take-out restaurant if people are allowed to have beers in the park we got a strange look and then “of course you can”. Silly tourists!

Today's ride: 50 km (31 miles)
Total: 50 km (31 miles)

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