September 3, 2011
We Reach the Source of the Danube: 18% gradients and a tractor fair
The lady in the Tourist information last night told us it would be a difficult day and she was correct probably the hardest we have had but we enjoyed it. She said it was 13km to Bergen, all uphill but not too bad. She was right it was a lovely ride, all in our lowest gear up through a couple of villages and when we got to Bergen we were able to get acceptable coffees in a garage cum store cum snack bar for 2.5Euros and spend the rest of our Swiss money. After that she said the road was very steep for around 2km to the German border . Again she was right and the bike sign said it was a 18% gradient. Impossible for us to ride on our heavily laden bikes so we just pushed on up to the border where it flattened out somewhat. After that she went vague, after all we would now be in Germany not Switzerland, she hinted it would be easy. That is not right although it was never as steeply up hill again. It is all up and down, very poorly signed at times and with some really awful surfaces. Looking across these high pastures however was really beautiful and we heard cow bells though most of the cows were housed. The last 8km was a lovely long gentle down hill to Donaueshingen and what has been described as the historical source of the Danube ever since the Roman general Tiberius visited it in 15BC.
There was however a major highlight to the day. Ever since we had left Schaffhausen we had been passed by really ancient tractors. Ken speculated that there must be a major tractor show somewhere. We were marooned on the top of a hill searching for elusive bike signs when across the valley ken spotted a tractor hanging from a crane and alsorts of treasures converging to it. We were down the hill in a flash and across the valley. Ken was in 7th heaven it was an 'Oldtimers' fair and not only were there tractors but also cars and motorbikes. I sat happily in the shade talking to the people arriving while Ken rushed around seeing machinery he didn't know existed including many rare Swiss and German models. Seldom have I seen such a joyous crowd of all ages. The camera was very busy but I will spare you too many photos. And the bonus was we found the bike track nearby
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Today's ride: 43 km (27 miles)
Total: 1,543 km (958 miles)
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