Zurich to the Rhine

[DebW]

For my first long ride in Switzerland, I decided I wanted to see the High Rhine (Hochrhein) on the border of Switzerland and Germany. It's not terribly far from Zurich, about 30 km, and there are a few national cycling routes to get there. So I left my apartment at 8:30 am with lunch, water, and the official Zurich area cycling map. I reached the Rhine at 10:45 am. Much of the route followed the Glatt River and was flat and pretty. Here are some pictures along the Glatt.

[madscot13]

Oh I've seen that trusty steed before. what size tires do you have for it?

what is zurich like? I've only been to the sleeper town of Geneva

[DebW]

Oh I've seen that trusty steed before. what size tires do you have for it?

what is zurich like? I've only been to the sleeper town of Geneva

Yes, a most trusty steed. The tires are 26x1.3, which are perfect for the mix of roads and gravel paths here.

Zurich is a pretty town, right on a very large lake and a river. The Alps are visible from town on clear days. A small mountain called Uetliberg can be hiked from the city outskirts and provides great views. The public transportation is superbe, and everything is very bike friendly. I just got a "welcome to town" packet in the mail, and it included a map of bus routes, a map of hiking routes, a map of cycling routes, a flyer about a cycling course for children, and a postcard you can mail to the city requesting a cycling route between two points. And there is a city bike tour advertised for two future dates.

The university building I work at downtown has about 100 bikes parked outside every day. Many of the bike racks in town have partial roofs to keep the bikes dry in the rain. Here are the bikes parked by my building. Alpine Rabbit could tell you more - I'm still learning.

[alpinerabbit]

:-) this is fun - seeing "home" from a different perspective...

[papaver]

sehr schön.

[DebW]

The High Rhine was mostly lovely and idyllic. Though my first view of it was at a power plant/hdrodam (I presume). Swiss National Cycling Route #2 follows the Rhine, so I saw quite a few loaded cycle tourists. I stopped at one spot to enjoy the river and met a Swan and 5 cygnets. A few smallish boats went by, including one crew shell, a fisherman, and a couple motorboats. But mostly just wildlife there including a large variety of ducks, geese, and swans. There was 5-6 km of paved path along the Rhine and then through a town. Then 5 km of gravel path through the woods, with an occasional vendor stand catering to cyclists and hikers. Then crossed the Toess River (a Rhine tributary) on a bridge where there was a restaurant and a boat landing and little park. I ate my sandwich by the river in the park.

[DebW]

The ride back included great scenery, some nasty hills, and a little bit of getting lost (on the nasty hills of course). But I got back to the Glatt River in time to consider riding another loop up to the Rhine, though my better judgement prevailed and I didn't. A few final pictures, including a farmyard full of fawns and one of the Swiss cycling route signs (I know a few places could use more signs!). After a total distance of 88 km, I got home by 3 pm with enough energy left for another ride tomorrow. Stay tuned...

[shootingstar]

Last year my dearie did spend approx. 5 days cycling another section of Rhine bike paths (during 3 wk. European trip) and made detours to visit some relatives in Black Forest reigon where he did once again taste wine made from little family vineyard on the slopes. He took his folding bike 'cause earlier part of trip he took trains to Copenhagen, Barcelona, Paris, etc. with cycling here and there. Some of his trip was biz related..to look at cycling facilities and to chat up with some local advocates.

2nd photo was Heidelberg.

He's visited Germany several times in his life since immigrating from Germany when he was a boy. Hence, whenever I suggest I cycle with him in Germany on those paths, he's not as excited as I because he's been there several times already (though not everywhere in Germany). (France has greater attraction to him. )

From what he describes in cycling networks in Germany, it's just amazing. And the towns are so much closer to each other of course, compared to North America.

Deb, hope you post more photos of trips soon. Maybe I can tempt him ..

[divingbiker]

Sounds and looks like a beautiful day, Deb. Please keep posting pictures.

[OakLeaf]

Exciting and beautiful!

[DebW]

Today I did a 65 km loop south of Zurich and around the Uetliberg mountain/ridge, as suggested by Alpine Rabbit. Made a stop at the Tuerlersee to go swimming. Went over the Albispass. 65 km including one wrong-way detour. Here is a picture of the lake and a few pictures from the pass.

[madscot13]

oh hey! I didn't know you had moved out there! Is this a temporary thing or pretty permanent?