The Donau ... and the Romantische Strasse

As avid followers of this blog will have noticed the route described at first is not the one we've followed. We seemed to be covering the distances quicker than we'd expected and so the "Plan B" became to go up the Nekkar then down the Donau to Donauworth, and 'return' north along the 'Romantische Strasse' ... so that's what we're doing.

Leaving Donaueschingen and following the Donau brought back lots of memories of last year. This time, the weather, although still leaving a lot to be desired, was better than before ... but the Donautal is stunningly beautiful whatever the weather. We had lots of ... "here's where ... " and, "do you remember...?", as we rode along, reminiscing about our first few days cycling together. Blaubeuren was wonderful, and we had a luxurious night at the Hotel Adler instead of camping. The next day we stopped briefly in Ulm for breakfast and then moved on to Dillingen Kanu Club campsite, right beside the river, for the night. The lady at the campsite remembered me cutting my finger last year, and I chatted again with her father with whom I watched the football (Germany vs England) in the World Cup last year.

We had one more day on the Danube, as far as Donauworth, which is at the crossroads of the Donau Radweg and the Romantische Strasse. The campsite, once more, is right beside the river (Wormitz) and there are supposed to be otters that come out in the evenings ... we saw ripples in the water and that was it!

The Romantische Strasse links a string of really old, beautiful mediaeval towns running from Wurzburg in the North to Fussen (with it's 'fairytale' castle as seen on many a Chocolate Box!) in the South. Donauworth is half way along. We will reach Wurzburg in a few days and decide where we go from there.

For now though, we are happily camped and having a 'day off' in a lovely old town called Dinkelsbuhl, sitting in the campsite bar, writing our diaries and drinking their 75cent beers!