Arrived in Andermatt

Long day travelling from Heathrow to Andermatt. The two bags are heavy and difficult to handle, with lots of puffing up and down stairs at the stations.
Although the weather was dull some great views on the train from Zurich to Andermatt. Lots of cloud obscuring the mountain tops but looks like snow still around.
Met and had dinner with a very chatty American couple who are riding down the Rhine tomorrow too. He is 75 and planning to ride up the pass to the top so puts me to shame as I will take the train to the top of the pass.(that is the real start of the Eurovelo 15 and source of the Rhine).
Looking forward to actually starting the ride and so far few hitches. My plug adapter does not seem to fit so maybe the Swiss dont use the usual European plugs. Will have to charge my gadjets with the dynamo and solar panels.

Probably wont sleep that well, with the nervous excitement!!

Last training ride before the Rhine trip.

Great ride with Gill this morning. Sunny day with a chilly wind. Had a bit of trouble keeping up with Gill on her road bike and me on the Brompton. Lots of licra clad bikers out today as it is a sunny Bank holiday Sunday.

Let the fun begin

6 days to the start of the ride down the Rhine. Just sitting in the Koru lounge at Auckland airport, not looking forward to the flight, but excited by the thought of no work for a month.

Training day with trailers

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/491071651

Cold start but took trailers behind bikes to check everything works. Some hills but gentle ride.

Training day

Lovely day with sunshine and no wind.

The Route

EuroVelo 15: From the source of the Rhine to its mouth in the North Sea

Long Service leave- down the River Rhine

It has been far too long since the last post! Time to plan the longest bike tour yet!

I have worked at the same Hospital for 30 years and have had a day a year extra holiday to use up. That means 30 days Long Service Leave. Yahooo!

Have wanted to do a long bike tour for a while and the inspiration comes from all the great adventures I have read about on the web site CGOAB. Amazing what people do!

We have done a couple of short tours , the most memorable one was the trip along the Garonne from Bordeaux to Toulouse. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=13344

This time I plan to ride the Eurovelo 15 (the Rhine Route). About 1200 kms through 4 countries and past 9 sites listed by Unesco.

I am dividing the trip into 3 sections. First I will do on my own.
Andermatt to Zurich by myself
Zurich to Strasbourg with Sue
Strasbourg to Rotterdam with my Sister