Waldshut to Kloten

October 15, 2024

A Dry Start, A Wet Finish

The last riding day of a tour is to be savoured, at least that is how I felt when we started out this morning. We had overcast skies but it was dry, and Waldshut looked lovely. At my request there was just a little bit of shopping after breakfast , and then we were on our way, with a few funny miscues at the start. The church parking lot was not the way out of town.

Picnic picked up, conveniently right next door to our Hotel Waldshuter Hof.

I was firm. I wasn’t leaving without a poke around the shops.

Note the wooden slats in the middle of the pedestrian area. Yesterday this was an open waterway which struck us as a little hazardous!

A little further along it was still open. You really had to pay attention.

Once on the right track it really was that day to be savoured and I was once more celebrating our decision to finish the trip on our bikes, not on a train. We decided to ride on the German side and it was terrific. Lots to look at and cute small villages to pass through.

Does anyone know what the green paint signifies?

We were stopped in one of those villages puzzled by the fact that Keith’s route had disappeared from his phone (never a good thing) and neither of us had any internet. A lovely young woman with the cutest daughter asked if we needed help. We told her we couldn’t figure out why we had no data, and she pointed to the big hill between us and Switzerland. That was the problem. Since Keith hadn’t downloaded the offline map as it hadn’t been an issue until today he cobbled something together until we were back on track.

The village where the route on the phone disappeared.

From what I could figure out this person makes the intricate metal signs, lamps and gates that we see.

He had just about every example of his work on display.

We stopped for our picnic at a sweet little chapel with a killer view. It was a great interlude.

We crossed an enormous dam and we were back in Switzerland. The route just kept on giving, and then we came to workers repairing the bike path. Asphalt was being rolled flat, flames from a torch were flaming and there were only a couple of feet to get around the chaos. I was sure we would be turned back. Nope, the nicest man said “langsom”, one of my few German words, and we were through. He didn’t even ask us to walk the bikes.

Then it started to rain. Not a downpour, not a drizzle. Just steady rain. I stopped by a covered bridge to get out the Goretex. I had intentionally put it on top for this possibility. Whenever Keith or I need to find something mid ride we always call ‘50/50 chance’ as we open the first pannier. In this case I lost so I buckled up, opened pannier #2 and no joy there either. I became seriously worried that in my intention to put my jacket on top, I had left it behind. Of course I hadn’t but in the end I emptied virtually everything out of both panniers before I found it. It had worked its way close to the bottom. Just what you need in the rain.

Keith looking back wondering what the heck I am doing.

So he took this lovely picture while I reorganized my bags.

The ride was beautiful from then on, but in the steady rain we just wanted to get it done. So much for savouring the last riding day. As we were getting close, huge jet after huge jet was passing overhead. It is quite the experience.

So we stopped at the top of a hill to get a picture. We waited and waited. The planes had been coming easily one a minute, but when we stopped they disappeared. It was comical. After several soggy minutes we gave up.

We spent the last 10 km or so before Kloten on the most amazing road, bike lane on either side, and we were the only ones using it. I wasn’t sure where we were relative to the airport when I heard a plane overhead. I knew it was low, it was so loud. Not low though, on the ground and it roared by me less than 100 m away. Wow! That would be a runway right there.

Why is this road paralleling the runway here? Just for us? We sure enjoyed it.

Even our underwear was wet. It was fun despite the rain.

We have everything we were wearing drying in the room. We both had long, hot showers. We came back from dinner and the room was very humid! We have used our wet clothing as an excuse to not pack the bikes today. We have two nights here and all day tomorrow to get organized. Instead we celebrated another successful tour with appies and wine in the room, and dinner in the hotel restaurant. Appies were a Granny Smith apple and the last of the cheese in our picnic supplies.

We have a beautiful room but with wet gear hanging everywhere it is looking a bit like a laundry.

It has been a relaxing and enjoyable evening, trading stories about our favourite days of this tour and others.

Today's ride: 54 km (34 miles)
Total: 1,804 km (1,120 miles)

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Comment on this entry	Comment	5

Rich FrasierCongratulations on another fantastic tour! I’ve been furiously taking notes and will shamelessly steal major parts of your route for one of our upcoming rides. I really enjoyed following along!
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2 months ago

Patrick O'HaraThanks for writing up your adventures for all of us. Wishing you the smoothest of travel on your return home to BC!
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2 months ago

Karen PoretAs always, a great hit and so fun to share your experiences as you do so well!
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2 months ago

Rachael AndersonI’ve really enjoyed following your travels and am very glad we had a chance to see you!
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2 months ago

Suzanne GibsonWhat a wonderful trip! And your enthusiasm is contagious, I want to go to all the same places now!
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2 months ago