Europe (local)

Seconda parte del Tour in bicicletta da Trieste a Istambul

Si dice che il mondo sia piccolo, figuriamoci Sarajevo: sto per ripartire quando sulla bici trovo un biglietto degli amici cuneesi: tra i molti alberghi della città abbiamo soggiornato nello stesso, senza avere la fortuna di rivederci.

Second part of the Bike Tour from Trieste to Istanbul

People said that the world is small, let alone Sarajevo: I am starting when on the bike when I find a ticket of my friendsfrom Cuneo: among the many city hotels we have stayed in the same, without having the chance to meet again each other.

[DOC] Quest'anno per una serie di motivi abbiamo optato per un breve tour in patria non privo comunque di interesse come il titolo e la foto introduttiva sono a testimoniare.

Il nostro solito e collaudato periodo è ad inizio giugno, le scuole sono ancora in attività (Alessio saluta il signor direttore), le giornate sono le più lunghe dell'anno, il caldo quello vero è ancora in rodaggio e per i prezzi siamo ancora in fase low cost.

[DOC] Ancora Francia, eh sì ci troviamo proprio bene ma quest'anno allarghiamo un po' il giro sconfinando nella vicina Germania per rientrare in Francia per poi nuovamente passare in Germania fino a raggiungere il punto dove si incontrano le tre frontiere di Francia, Germania, Lussemburgo cioè Schengen.

[DOC] La buona riuscita del viaggio dello scorso anno ci ha spinti anche quest'anno a pedalare per un po' di giorni in un paese sempre ospitale e ricco di storia, cultura e gastronomia come la Francia.

La Francia dunque : liberté, égalité e vin rosé

L'idea che ha dato vita al viaggio è stata quella di bagnare le ruote delle bici nell'Oceano Atlantico e di bagnarle a fine percorso nell'acqua del Mediterraneo.

[DOC] Per un paio d'anni, praticamente ogni domenica mattina durante il nostro giro in bici, il ritornello è sempre stato quello e cioè l'idea di un viaggio in bici che durasse qualche giorno e non solo le quattro, cinque ore domenicali.

Le strade di casa nostra ormai percorse in bici decine e decine di volte cominciavano ad avere l'orizzonte della cyclette in camera e dunque la domanda diventava sempre più martellante " Nemo in Francia in bicicreta ??" (Andiamo in Francia in bicicletta ??). Non ci è voluto tanto tempo per organizzare questo "over 50 tour" con lo spirito del cicloturista o ciclo viaggiatore e cioè con il preciso intento che velocità e media oraria non dovessero essere la nostra preoccupazione. Perché in Francia? Perché l'idea è nata per raggiungere la città di mia moglie Valence (Drome) un centinaio di km a sud di Lyon e perché in Francia si mangia bene e perché in Francia c'è del buon vino e perché in Francia i ciclisti sono veramente rispettati.

Racconto di viaggio ed emozioni in Danimarca

"Skagerrak o Kattegat?...Skagerrak o Kattegat?

Sul "ramo" sfoglio le onde, provenienti da mari opposti, che si infrangono una contro l'altra disegnando la fragile lingua di sabbia di Grenen.

about 410 kilometers only - but please consider the circumstances...; and made a climb up to nearly ~ 4.000 meters

[...] Chile is a rather safe and clean country. People are honest and helpful. Moreover, they have a good public transport system (...this in case ones leg gets soared...). There are a lot of but's...: one is the traffic and the smog. Both is against bicyclists. Roads between major cities are freeways. Service roads ending, than one is supposed to ride on the shoulder of the freeway (which is officially forbidden in Chile - but what to do?!) Constructors simply have forgotten on 'normal' roads.... And, it increases the problem: Chile has no long distance train (only Metro, e.g. Santiago and or Valparaiso - good system - but you cannot take a bicycle to the Metro). The other issue is the smog. You may see the smog cloud, one you approach Santiago by air. But this smog cloud is so heavy, as it penetrates houses (living room, sleeping room...). My mouth is maybe to sensitive, but I felt a permanent bitter taste. Long distance travel in Chile is done via a very good bus system. Rather cheap and reliable. [...]

Trieste porta dell'est. Oltre questo confine finisce l'occidente e ci si immerge in una mescolanza di culture e religioni che convivono da secoli, non senza problemi, una affianco all'altra. Guerre, invasioni e lotte intestine hanno caratterizzato la storia dei Balcani, territorio la cui bellezza stupisce, così come non lascia indifferenti la disponibilità ed il senso di fratellanza con cui si viene accolti. Percorrere a ritroso le strade attraversate dai turchi cinquecento anni prima, visitare i palazzi della dominazione asburgica a Sarajevo, vedere la recente guerra balcanica negli edifici forati dai proiettili o nelle lapidi tutte vecchie di due decenni. Leggi tutto...

In Hameln wünschten uns die Freunde eine schöne und interessante Fahrradtour an den vier Flüssen Weser, Werra, Itz und Main.

A Lubecca, alle biciclette vogliono un gran bene. Quei pali zincati sui quali le biciclette vengono legate, diventano strumenti per dimostrare il loro attaccamento.

Rivestiti di cotone e lana lavorata ad uncinetto, traforata o a patchwork, ne fanno un elemento colorato che non crea alcun danno al telaio della bicicletta sui quali viene legata.

In Lübeck, People love bicycles too much. Those galvanized poles on which bicycles are tied, they become tools to demonstrate their attachment. Covered in cotton wool and crochet, patchwork or perforated, make it a colored element that does not create any damage to the bicycle frame on which it is linked.

A blog by a brother, a sister and her boyfriend (now husband) about their anti-clockwise trip around the ring-road and the West Fjords during the summer of 2011.

When I begin the planning process for a tour, I usually start by looking at journals on Trento Bike Pages and 'Crazy Guy on a Bike'. If something peaks my interest, I'll check out the Web site for that country and also look at Google maps. As I progress I'll browse through the travel section of our local bookstore.

The great thing about touring is that every day is an adventure and every day offers different challenges. In spite of all the planning you do, what you expect and what you get are two different things.

Cycling through the Catalan region of Spain and the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France far exceeded all our expectations. It was a bike ride that combined beautiful scenery with historical sights. We had challenging cols, rode along the Mediterranean and through spectacular river gorges. Every day was different.

I tried to avoid to fall into an early Winter sleep... Tried to keep my tired bones fit. As I have been in an refreshment email contact with a biker couple, living nearby Hamburg, we have quickly made a plan to meet and cycle around. I have been knowing Hamburg from the past, but Hamburg today, is even more bigger, more modern (more expensive...).

What impressed my most, beside the friendly attitude of Hamburgers citizens, was the wide variety of music shops. We had the chance to participate a 'concert' in one of Hamburgs music pubs, the 'Knust', whereas we have seen on stage Ryan Bingham and Valerie in the pre-program... Just wonderful!

In quei 17 km sopra l'isola ho ascoltato i versi della natura di Sylt. Un po' brughiera, un po' erica, un po' vento, un po' uccello, un po' innamorato, un po' poeta, mettevo alla prova i miei sensi.

In those 17 km above the island I heard the verses of the nature of Sylt. A bit heath, a little heather, a little wind, a little bird, a little loveer, a little poet, put to the test my senses.

Mit dem Fahrrad durch den Koog
Es ist fast wie ein Sog
Blumen, Ferlder, der Deich.
Die Sonne lacth mir entegegen
aber auch bei Regen
liebe ich dieses stille Reich.
Gedankenreise, di Waltraud Hansen

A Myrtos, sotto pochi ombrelloni di foglie di palma, milioni di ciottoli bianchi incorniciano la baia. I sassi (qui come altrove) raccontano la storia dell'arte: l'elemento principale della scultura è la bellezza del disegno perfettissimo (Canova). Cosa di più perfetto di questi semplici sassi? Essi contengono il segreto dell'ambiente e del tempo. Come in una scultura dove "la materia diventa ambiente, c'è nella pietra il peso della verità". (M. Noble)

A Myrtos under a few umbrellas made ​​of palm leaves, illions of white pebbles surround the bay. The stones (here as elsewhere) tell the history of art: the main element of the sculpture is the beauty of the most perfect design (Canova). What could be more perfect than these simple stones? They contain the secret of the environment and time. As a sculpture, "where the matter becomes environment, there is a stone weight of truth." (M. Noble)

Miraggio tra le gocce: un bel casolare in pietra con persiane azzurre tipiche della provenza. E' l' hotel Carina, provo a fermarmi immaginando la scena dell'albergatore snob che non mi fa nemmeno entrare perché sporco il pavimento (ero da strizzare) invece mi accoglie una ragazza dai modi gentili che mi tratta da regina, mi fa accomodare la bici in un ripostiglio.

Tutti vi diranno che Ribe, la città più antica della Danimarca, si visita a piedi. In bici è meglio. Con la bicicletta si può percorrere l'anello esterno. Le abitazioni legate una all'altra dai colori pastello sfilano davanti a voi armoniose nella loro linea antica.

Everyone will tell you that Ribe, the oldest town of Denmark, be visited on foot. With the bike is better. By bicycle you can take the outer ring. The structures linked to each other pastel colors parade in front of you harmonious in their ancient line ...

Percorremmo le ondulazioni del villaggio di Ferring, raggiungemmo la costa scoscesa di Bovbierg. All'ombra del faro un gruppo di pittrici, sguardo all'infinito, tentavano di percorrere "il cammino verso l'opera d'arte nella solitudine". Le loro tele si materializzavano, tocco dopo tocco, ma il lento procedere manifestava l'attesa per un evento coloristico, che il cielo, il sole e il mare avrebbero potuto concedere. Trattenevano i colori impastati sulla tavolozza in attesa di riprodurre armonie percepite al momento solo dall'animo.

We walked along the undulations of the village of Ferring, reached the rugged coast of Bovbierg. In the shadow of the lighthouse a group of painters, gaze endlessly, trying to follow "the path to the artwork in solitude." Their webs materialized, touch after touch, but the slow pace manifested waiting for an event of color, the sky, the sun and the sea could have provided. They held the colors mixed on the palette waiting to play harmonies perceived at present only from the soul.

Pur essendo in una zona ricca e turistica tra boschi e montagne, noto la differenza dall'Austria e la Germania. Incrocio numerose macchine con canoe e bici sul tetto, così mi accorgo di essere entrata nel fine settimana. Arrivo nel paese-gioiello, meta principale del mio viaggio, Cesky Krumlov. Sono anni che voglio visitarlo.

Despite being in an area rich in tourist and among forests and mountains, known the difference from Austria and Germany. Crossing numerous machines with canoes and bikes on the roof, so I realize I have entered over the weekend. Arrival in the country-jewel, the main goal of my trip, Cesky Krumlov. For years, I want to visit.

This is a round trip through the Ardeche canyon, which is very impressive. It starts in Pont Saint Spirit, next to the Ardeche river, and goes to Vallon Pont d'Arc, in the first stage of 50 km. This is the most beautiful part of the trip, passing next to the canyon, with impressive views. The second stages, returns through the other side of the river, more pacefully and visiting the Ognac groutes, very interesting.

This is a round trip to Slovenia and part of Croatia. It starts from Trieste, in Italy, to go up north in Slovenia, following up the Soca River, and after Bovec to climb the Vrisic Mountain pass of 1611 m. Then all down to Bled and Lubjliana. Then to Novo Mesto and direct to Croatia (Zagreb). Then to Karlovac, with still many signs of the former 90's war, and return to Slovenia, through very quiet secondary roads, sometimes not paved. Postojna with the caves and finally return to Trieste. Steepy trip in the second stage, but the rest not very difficult. Traffic very pacific in Slovenia with many bike paths in Lubjliana. In Croatia traffic is busy and crazy.

This is the round trip to the Mallorca Island in 4 stages. Starting at Palma Mallorca's harbour, the route leads east to the "Serra de Tramuntana" and to Soller. Then leads north east to Pollença. The rest of the tour is in the more flat eastern part of the island. To Manacor and returning to Palma after climbin the Santuiri church with an impressive view.

This is a round trip from Sant Joan de las Abadessas, to pass a night in the quiet and beautiful Sanctuary of Montgrony. The first stage starts with the "Ruta del ferro" green bike line. An old railway converted in a bike path. From Ripoll, all is up to Gombren and finally climb to the Sanctuary. The secon stage is to go to Castellar de Nug, where Llobregat river borns, and return with the main road and pass the Coll de la Merolla, to arrive finally at the start point.

A 4 week, self-supported tandem tour through the Pyrenees of Spain and France.

We travelled west from Girona (Spain) to Sabinanigo, crossed to France, rode 4 Tour cols, returned to Spain, and completed a loop via the Mediterranean. Daily GPS routes and elevation profiles are included, as well as lots of photos.

Cycling near the Garonne and the Midi Canal. The first part of the trip is through the hilly vineyard of Bordeaux, till reaching the Canal Lateral of Garonne to Toulouse and then the Midi Canal and finally reach the Mediterranean Sea at Marsellain Plage. The route changes from Atlantic weather to mediterranean weather so the vegetation changes every stage.

Route around the Jutland's peninsula following clockwise route from the North Sea (between 6000 km). We start in he center in Billund, where the Legoland park and airport to go to the southwest, and then in Esbjerg we join the North Sea route to the top of the peninsula, Skagen (which in Denmark is Danish National route becomes n.1). In between we deviate a little to take the National Route 5, Denmark (Limfjord). From Skagen we go down to the middle, Aalborg and we head Aharus where we also have airport to go out.

This is the Tour to Estonia counterclockwise starting and ending in Tallinn. You will visit the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa and national parks Soomaa and Lahemaa. We follow part of National Bike Routes number 1, 5 and 4.

In 10 days you will do the almost complete round tour to this beautiful baltic country that is Estonia. 900 km through bike paths, green paths, non paved roads, quiet secondary roads and few main roads, but with not so much traffic. The trip is very flat, but a bit windy sometimes.

Route to go from Belgrade to Constanta, in the Black Sea, following the Dunav in its last 1000 km, through Serbia, Iron Gate between Carpathians and Balkans, and jumping from Bulgaria to Romania consecutively, in both sides of the river.

It's in 10 stages, plus one first stage from the airport to Belgrade Center, and one final stage to go from Constanta to Mamaia, to get a rent a car to go to Bucharest. This is a gorgeous trip, than crosses three countries, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria, that lives besides the river and whose lifes of people that lives beside depends on it. This is part of the Eurovelo 6, the route from the Atlantic (Loire) to Black Sea, crossing all Europe.

This is a lovely first tour for beginners or the more adventurous, looking to discover Brittany. It starts and finishes at the ferryport at Roscoff (Brittany Ferries) and is a week long, though obviously this can be modified. Detailed turn-by-turn instructions are given along with recommended camspites with contact details. Have fun:-)

I started my tour through Austria July 23rd till August 16th 2012 in Bremgarten CH. Via Liechtenstein and South-Tyrol I cycled eastward, around lake Neusiedlersee to Bratislava. The way back; up the Danube, Salzburg, Zell am See, Gerlos and Arlbergpass to Feldkirch and via the valley Toggenburg in Switzerland back home.

Cycle tour along the western Black Sea coast by Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria with visiting popular rest resorts. Total run is 1700 km for 17 days. Danube Delta is also included.

Giravamo incuriositi lo sguardo dentro il Niels Bugge's Hotel per capire quali pregevoli servizi ci dovesse elargire la storica locanda nella quale eravamo ospiti. L'interno era arredato con gusto da mobili d'epoca. Sulle pareti, occhi vivaci di personaggi, osservavano gli ospiti, da fotografie in bianco e nero entro nere cornici di legno e gesso. Con lo sguardo, di probabili primitivi proprietari, controllavano, ancora compiacendosi, il personale e gli ospiti.

Shooting curious gaze into the Niels Bugge's Hotel to see what valuable services we should bestow the historic inn where we were staying. The interior was tastefully decorated with antique furniture. On the walls, bright eyes of characters, watching the guests, from photographs in black and white by black frames of wood and plaster. With the look of probable original owners, controlled, yet welcoming, the staff and guests

Do not miss this tour... Only 80 kilometers on hilly roads against the wind... We tried to find out, if there is a bike trail along the former 'iron curtain' boarder: 'the green band' Well, one says on their webpage clearly: 'the green band' is a good idea, which exists more virtual as practical...' That' s the way it is. We closed this missing link and enjoyed the tour! Breclav is a renewed, quite and biker friendly city! [...] Passed cities as Jedenspeigen, Durnkrut, Stillfried and Angern. Heide had many stops in order to collect a rucksack full of walnuts... We went on train at Ganserndorf in order to avoid to cross the city of Vienna at dawn time... Nevertheless, the tour was fun, even facing strong head winds. Enjoy the pictures and details of our tour. Good luck to our followers.

Da Verona a Nurnberg attraverso gli Alti Tauri e la Repubblica Ceca

"Ogni giorno racconto la favola mia, la racconto ogni giorno a chiunque tu sia." (Renato Zero) E' piacevole canticchiare durante le lunghe pedalate in solitaria. La mia favola ha inizio... Lascio la calda ed afosa Verona con un treno regionale sporco e scomodo per raggiungere Fortezza e prendere il trenino trentino pulito e comodo con destinazione S. Candido. Intorno alle ore 12,00 m'impedalo in direzione Matrei. Da qui in poi ci sarà sempre la temperatura fresca.

The river Elbe bicycle trail tour is about 561 kilometers from Hamburg to Dresden (including a lot of search, trial and error... and dead end escapes...). The Elbe bike trail exists, but it is not made for miles eater riders, like me..., on a race bike. The trail is for bicyclists, who travel on a trekking bike, which is made for bumpy roads, gravel and dirt...; moreover for travelers who does 30 kilometers a day, stopping on each sign and picture buildings and landscape all over, and have many stops on coffee shops on the way.... What I did, is somehow wrong, and it does not really reflect the beauty of the entire trail. Therefore, I ended up on several dead ends in gravel and dirt, what makes me ride more or less on side roads. [...] If one is a good navigator (with a nose of intuition) and a little GPS navigator, those wouldn't have to much trouble. Enjoy the report and the pictures! Good luck to our followers!

It's the second biggest country of Europe. Still a lot of Europeans don't really know it. And western cycle tourists don't visit it often.This summer we discovered it by bicycle! Here is what we found in Ukraine. Have fun!

To make a long story short: I have been twice... The first and the last time... Maybe the time is to short, that good old communistic times have changed into new democratic times... No problem with authority, but standard behavior of people on road and public places are questionable... Even on Neringa, and this is valid for nearly all roads at Lithuania: It became a transit corridor for Russians, particular for the access to and from Kaliningrad. People with cars overhaul with no clearance. Very dangerous. A lot of roads bear signs : no bicycles. But on the other hand bicycle trails are not inviting. Most of them end in a gravel and mud Nirvana... You need time, to find someone who speaks English. German is nearly not present... My advise: check out carefully your tour. Expect the unexpected. My tour has been somehow 'wet'. Enjoy the pictures. Good luck to our followers!

I have cycled in Slovenia and the Dolomites before and on both occasions due to poor weather and a lack of fitness did not ride a route I had previously planned. I decided to return to tackle two climbs - the Grossglockner in Austria and the Vrsic in Slovenia. It was well worth it. Here you will find details of the route, together with information on the hotels and restaurants I used. Learning the lessons, it could be turned from a very good to great tour.