Wobbling Winos: Day 47 - Ehingen to Bad Waldsee.

Day 47: Ehingen to Bad-Waldsee. 78km, 4h30.

We were faced with a choice this morning - to continue along the Danube Velo 6 which will take us to Tutlingen which is further west than where we wanted to be on the Bodensee, or turn off at Mengen and cycle for 2 days where there is no cycle path.

At breakfast we got chatting to some German cyclists and asked them if they knew the best route to take to the Bodensee. They said that there was a link cycle route, the Bodensee - Donau cycle route that leaves the Velo 6, a little way out of Ulm. Ian had actually read about it on the net, but we were reluctant to take it as we didn't have a map and couldn't find detailed information about it.

We popped in at the TI on our way out of town to see if they had any info, but unfortunately they did not have a map. In Austria they have a detailed booklet in English on all the cycle routes which includes information on sights and accommodation in the area. In Germany, the information is available, but not as accessible. However, they said that we could buy a map at the local bookstore. It was worth waiting for it to open as the map is fantastic and exactly what we were looking for.

We ended up cycling 12 km back towards Ulm to Opfingen where we said goodbye to the Danube and turned down to Risstissen and then on to Laupheim where we joined the Bodensee - Donau Radweg.

This cycle route is well marked and the path is asphalt, except for a small section on Macadam (compacted gravel).We passed through the beautiful gentle countryside and had a few small hills to climb. This is a wheat and dairy area and they have just started harvesting the wheat fields. It is quite a slick operation where the harvester is followed by a tractor and trailer. The harvested wheat is funneled into the trailer - the aim has to be correct!

The last 4 km of the day was downhill through a lovely forest and passed an interesting adventure course through the tree tops.

Bad Waldsee is situated on a beautiful lake, Stadt See. There is also a hot spring which increases the price of accommodation instantly. We managed to find a place to stay at Gasthaus Rossle at the gate to the old city, in the upper range of affordability for us.

The old town is lined with old half timber houses with a beautiful Rathaus and the church, Das Heilige- Geist - Spital which is the oldest establishment in the town. The Kornhaus next to the Rathaus was built to store wheat so that the people in the town would not starve.

Germany was playing Portugal in the World Cup so we watched the game with the rest of the town and were given Bretzels and boiled eggs as snacks at one of the Cafes. A new idea for when we have friends around for drinks! There was a lot of celebrating long into the night, after the 4-0 thrashing of Portugal with fireworks being set off along the banks of of the Stadt See.