Living along the Danube can be a tremendous challenge (floods) but also a priceless gift. We, nine women from the Eferding district, decided to follow this legendary river from its source to our homes.
We started our tour on June 16, 2017. We took a bike taxi and train, taking our luggage and bikes to the starting point of our trip in Donaueschingen. At this point, we'd like to make a serious point, one that's likely shared by many train-bike travelers and should serve as a guide for improvement. From Ulm onwards, it would be a great idea to bring our own bike carriage, so that at least the aisles in the passenger compartments remain clear. But that was the only downside to this tour. Since we planned our entire trip ourselves, it was almost a necessity to find a total of eight accommodations in advance. We received a consistently friendly welcome in the following towns and villages: Tuttlingen – Riedlingen – Ulm – Höchstädt – Neuburg – Kelheim – Straubing, and Vilshofen. A particular highlight on this route is the short detour through the Blautal valley before reaching the city of Ulm. Particularly charming are the routes that lead slightly away from the Danube, through fields, through small villages, and past the sometimes deserted "Schwaigen" (small mountain huts). The Danube Cycle Path is very well signposted throughout, and beautifully maintained rest areas frequently invited us to linger and rest. We had wonderful, but very hot, weather throughout, and we were always thirsty. We have particularly fond memories of the landlady of the "Bruckwirtschaft" (Bruck Inn), who, on her 60th birthday, provided us with drinks and ice cream during her lunch break.
Packed with wonderful memories of the picturesque towns along the Danube, the friendly inns, the good food and the refreshing wine spritzers, we returned to our Eferding region after nine days and a total of 730 kilometers driven without a single flat tire.
Erika Schapfl
