Van monding tot bron - final project WdK

Finally, after 24 days away from home, cycling 13 trips, visiting 14 cities, cycled through 5 countries, 16 provinces/bundesländer/cantons and in total cycling 1250 kilometres (so far) it was time for the last trip of the journey. The trip from Chur to the source of the Rhine, at an altitude of 2500 metres high in the Swiss Alps.

Unfortunately, due to the unusual weather conditions here in late April the pass towards the source was closet... There was only one pass that was not closet and could bring me to the closest point near the source, at the Lago Santa Maria, located at an altitude of 1908 metres. The Lukmanierpass / Cuolm Lucmagn
Passo del Lucomagno, was the only one open so I had to take this one or otherwise travel by train to my last stop, Lurengo, which felt like cheating and a betrayal of the last 24 days of traveling.

Everything started mild, the climbs were long but not that steep that I had to give up. Everything was doable and the views from up there were like no other that I had so far, along the journey. After every climb there was a long way down again which normally would feel good, but this time not so much. Because, every time you go down, means that later on you will have to go up again. so it felt a bit like waisting energy which later caused trouble.

Halfway the journey I had the feeling that I was not going to make it to the top. And these thoughts are the last thing you need if you're climbing a mountain. My mind was working against me and made my legs and arms and back feel sore. A long break, to take in all the silence of the valley and a good cry brought me back to a good mindset and I continued my trip towards the top. 1,5 hours left is what the gps said. 1,5 hours for just 10km means that the road ahead is not going to be easy and it was not. I gave it all I had and at some point I could see the dam that is build on the top. From now on there is no way back and I knew from now on that I was going to make it.

On the top of the hill, at 1908 metres, I was done. The trip was over, I reached the point that I lived towards, for more than 3 months. And with that, my body was done as well. From here it was only downhill but I could not anymore and on this side of the mountain it was much colder than on the other side.

A friendly guy in a small car saw me struggling and asked me if I needed help. I told him that a small ride down the mountain would help me a lot and he did.

Today, everything went the way it should be. The weather was perfect, I almost gave up but picked myself up again and right at the top help came at the exact right moment. I reached the top, which was basically the source of the Rhine. Everything after that was not part of the trip anymore, that was just bonus. After a few kilometres I asked the guy in the car if he could drop me off, so I could enjoy those last few bonus kilometres down hill ;)

From below

once I got higher, it started to become visible that temperatures dropped

where I almost lost hope

the dam/ the top/ the end in sight!

at the top

downhill again

some views at the bottom again

Done/Klaar/Fertig/Fini/Finito

From Liechtenstein to the oldest city in Switzerland, Chur. Chur is a small city of located in the middle between the mountains of the Swiss Alps, on an altitude of 592m.

A trip of just 40 kilometres and two and a half hours. The trip was for a big part not that nice because the region between Liechtenstein and Chur is used for a lot of industry and a big highway connection. So, no picturesque images were seen on this part of the trip.

The city of Chur is a nice place. It is quiet, there is plenty to do there and the views on the surrounding mountains are perfect. In case you're planning on passing through this part of Europe, Chur is one to add to your list maybe.

For me it was nice to have a good stay in a town that would not ask too much energy from me, the days before I would start my very last trip which would be the toughest one of all.

From Stein am Rhein to the dwarf state Liechtenstein. Located on the border of Switzerland and Austria. A trip of 120 kilometres from the foot of the Untensee followed by the greatest lake of Switzerland: the Bodensee, and eventually making a turn into the Swiss Alps.

Today was cold and windy, but luckily I had tailwind which made the trip much quicker than expected.

After the lake, the road was mostly a wide open valley where the view on the mountains would have been amazing, but unfortunately the clouds were low and did I not see any tip of a mountain. What I did see, very quickly, was that there was snow everywhere on the east side of the river and everything after that. The temperatures were much lower here than they were at Stein am Rhein. The weather in these mountain regions is something that is completely different from the weather on flat landscapes. They can differ every few kilometres.

Bodensee

Snowy mountain hills incoming

The valley

crossing the border of Liechtenstein

The trip of April 20 was actually the first trip in Switzerland. When I crossed the Swiss border two days ago, I immediately entered the city of Basel. On this day I left Basel to cycle across the whole northern border of Switzerland towards a small ancient village/city called Stein am Rhein. A trip of 120 kilometres during which I will cross the Swiss/German border 6 times!

Along the way I chose to follow the signs that were placed especially for cyclists. The signs lead you along the most beautiful paths of the area. Of course the best views you will get once you go
higher...

Along this trip was one of the main sight seeings of the whole tour. The Rheinfalls. Europe's biggest waterfalls. Amazing to see such brutal power by nature.

After this trip I was drained from all my energy but got richer in experience.

The day started of in the rain

But quickly changed to amazing weather

Views from the top of the hill

Rheinfall

Swiss/German border in the forest

Stein am Rhein Altstad

Instead of taking a direct route from A to B, I chose to take a big route through the Black Forest to explore its nature and enjoy the view from higher altitudes. The idea was to go from Freiburg im Breisgau to Feldberg, a place located on an altitude of 1400m in the middle of the mountains of the Black Forest, and then from there roll downhill towards Basel in Switzerland. A trip that, according to my GPS, would take me about 6 hours to cycle.

From Freiburg to the forest was a beautiful ride, calm as well with a slight uphill climb, but not too much. Once I reached to mountains it became a whole different trip and I quickly had to switch from cycling to hiking.

I hiked up the mountain with my bike and luggage, and climbed to an altitude of 1100m. From here, there started to appear a lot of snow on the road and I chose not to go any further since this could be dangerous and the snow would be too thick to get through. So, I had to roll all the way back downhill to the city of Freiburg to go from there to Basel, in a straight line.

I waisted some hours of the trip you could say, but the event has only made me more rich in experiences and it gained me lots of beautiful views.

The main road from Freiburg to Basel was a nice calm ride through the Baden wine region from which you had an amazing view of the snowy tops of the mountains. It was a strange idea that I was just freezing an hour ago on an altitude of 1100m and now I was sweating down here in the sun looking at where I just was.

Once you get near the boarder of Switzerland, you ride along the Rhine for about 30km, where the river probably had the most picturesque look from the whole trip, so far.

views of the Black Forest

From below

Basel 🇨🇭

From France, back to Germany. A trip from the Rhine towards the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, located in the region of the infamous Black Forest in the south-west of Germany. Freiburg im Breisgau is not located along the Rhine but the small river called 'Dreisam' flows from sources of the mountains of the Black Forest into the city and eventually ends up flowing into the Rhine. The city of Freiburg is surrounded by the huge Black Forest on the north-side and the large wine region of Baden in the south. The tour is about exploring the regions that are located along the Rhine and discover their cultures, as well. Because of the interesting regions around Freibrug who are a mix of culinary culture and ancient nature, I felt like I just had to explore Freiburg im Breisgau.

The trip of today had a distance of 75 kilometres. A trip that could be done in 4 hours but due to headwinds with a speed of 60 km/h the trip was a bit heavier than expected and took 5 and a half hours in total.

Aiming for the target 🇨🇭🏔️

Crossing the French/German border

Surpassed the 1000km mark! 270km to go from here

Cycling with headwinds looks like:

The first snowy mountain hills are in sight, from here the flat landscapes are behind me and the climbing will begin.

Views of Freiburg im Breisgau

For the first time in (a bit less than) two weeks I left Germany and crossed the border of France to continue my trip towards the city of Strasbourg. A trip of 80 kilometres, mostly through landscapes surrounded by nature and for once again, along the Rhine. In the beginning of France I came across some road blocks which made the trip a bit complicated, but sometimes going off-route brings you to wonderful places :)

Palace at Rastatt

The Rhine that splits the borders of Germany (left) and France (right)

Views of Strasbourg

The amount of swans that I see along the route is insane.

Day 7, from Industrial Mannheim to royal Karlsruhe. A trip of 65 kilometres along agricultural landscapes which ended up in a 20 kilometres long biking path straight through the forest, towards the royal palace in the middle of the city of Karlsruhe.

Road to the city of Karlsruhe

Well deserved ;)

Bernard Schultze

The trip of this day was 80 kilometres (4 hours). From the city of Mainz to the industrial city of Mannheim. A mainly flat road surrounded by the Fanconia wine region.

brutalism architecture Mannheim

Streets of Mannheim

Fresh new tires for the upcoming hills ;)

A trip of 75 kilometres, right through the hard of Germany's praised wine region and UNESCO heritage site. 75 kilometres of the trip along the Rhine with dozens of cultural and historical sights to be seen like Castles, Vineyards and of course the river itself.

I believe that this was one of the most beautiful trips so far, and would recommend everyone to see it for themselves, one day.

View of the 'Deutsches Eck' where the Mosselle (brown) and the Rhine come together.

streets of Boppard at night

small village along the Upper Middle Rhine

Part of the castles along the Upper Middle Rhine Valley

Once arrived in Mainz

Again, a long trip, 125 kilometres. I can admit that Germany's landscapes are getting more beautiful once you get below Köln. This was also the first trip in which I cycled along the Rhine most of the time. Away from the bigger cities, into tranquil nature AND even into a UNESCO heritage site (Upper Middle Rhine Valley)

'Castle Marksburg' in Braubach along the Rhine. One of the 44 castles in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley

From Düsseldorf to Köln is one of the smallest trips of the tour. A simple 35 kilometres.

On the 3rd of April, one of the biggest trip of the whole tour was planned. A tour of 130 kilometres to the German city Düsseldorf. One that I had mixed feelings about, it was exciting because I was leaving my home counrty by bike for the first time, so everything from now on will be new. But, also because I had to pass through the notorious industrial area 'Das Ruhrgebiet' that even by its locals is described as a grey and ugly area.

On the 1st of April my biking tour along the Rhine started. First trip: from Rotterdam to Arnhem/Rozendaal.