Blog 13 - 23 July 2008

Jeruzalem

Jeruzalem – named by the Crusaders, although this one is in Slovenia – wishful thinking perhaps.

Budapest

Budapest’s famous parliament building – Budapest was not as bike friendly as other cities – this is as close as I could get!

Szentendre Szentendre

The fading glamour of Szentendre on the “golden bend” of the Danube.

Gyor

I came across a lot of “dressing-up” on my trip, this particularly fine example is a Napoleonic re-enactment from Gyor in Hungary.

Austrian Village House

The sort of Austrian country house we’d all like to live in.

Durstein

An impressive stretch of the Danube at Durnstein in Austria.

Vienna

Vienna – very bike friendly and even more impressive than I had expected Austrian cycle facilities were a revelation.

Straubing

Straubing one of the many magnificent Bavarian towns on the Danube trail.

Weltenberg

Weltenberg – a brewery and monastery on the banks of the Danube – something for everyone then.

Sigmaringen.jpg

Sigmaringen in Germany where every town seemed to be built underneath a castle and cathedral.

Rhine near Bingen

Close to the source of the Danube – and 1400Km from when I joined it at Budapest.

Rhine near Basle

A massive distribution depot on the Rhine near Basle which somehow blends into the countryside and proves that big can be beautiful.

Strasbourg3

Following the Rhine North took me back into France – this is Strasbourg

German Rathus with Stork's nest

One problem we don’t have (yet) a stork’s nest on the Town Hall roof.

German roundabout.jpg

In Grantham there was talk of putting an old steam roller on the roundabout near Asda – maybe this is what it would look like?

Rhine near Bingen

A classic view of the Rhine near Bingen in Germany – on the day that the road is closed to cars.

Dutch Cycle lane.jpg

A Dutch cycle lane – just as I thought that the Austrians and Germans had the best facilities – with paths like this – you don’t need to persuade anyone to get on two wheels.

Gronigen6

Cycle sheds – I think we have racks for about 50 bikes at Grantham station – this is Gronigen station in Holland where there is space for over 5,000!

Appelscha

The curious sight of a Highland games competition (complete with stalls selling “jolly good” English food) in the Dutch countryside.

Edam2

Edam cheese market in full swing.