Sept 7th  Saxen To Pochlar 66.46k (39.87 miles) We set out after a wonderful included breakfast. We weren’t sure where to turn off but met an English speaking couple who said they were headed toward the river, so we followed them. They took back roads, much better than the stint on the highway last evening. …

Sept 6th Linz to Saxen 59.1k (35.5 miles) Another bad night of sleep, this time due to late night Diet Coke. I think the caffeine levels might be higher here. No breakfast included with our room so it was tea kettle eggs on bread w/mayo.    Our first stop was a bike shop to buy…

Sept 5th Inzell to Linz 63k (38 miles) It was a bad night with elbow pain from an overextended arm, which reinforced the need for further bike adjustments. The pension included a typical Austrian breakfast buffet with eggs, ham, salami, cheeses, breads, jams, cereal, yogurt, muesli, coffee and juice. I quickly learned that decaf isn’t…

Sept 4th Passau to Inzell 46k (28 miles) We said goodbye to our friends. It was wonderful being together again and we appreciate that Anne, Janett and Emma drove seven hours from Berlin to meet us.  Anne drove us to the bike rental, located across the street from Deutsche Post, where we shipped our luggage…

After hotel room breakfast, including the famous tea kettle eggs, the five of us spent the day touring Passau, first walking to the old town. Emma was excited to shop for ice cream and souvenirs. That girl moves quickly, but she was quite visable wearing her red Canada jersey that we brought her from home.…

We were up at 4:40 am for our early flight to Munich. I have flown hundreds of times and this was the first time I remember a flight taking off so ahead of schedule. The captain announced that the bags were loaded, everyone’s onboard so we might as well leave. Go Lufthansa! It was a…

Ulrich indulged us today starting with a visit to Gerstaecker, Bremen’s art supply store. I have been to art stores in many parts of the world, but this was the largest. Bigger than Blick in Manhattan. I found a clearance section of Winsor Newton professional brushes and indulged. As I’m hard on my brushes I…

25 (!) years ago, eldest daughter Elina participated in a three month high school exchange program in Germany. At her school in North Vancouver she met one of the German students, Lotta. Since then we have hosted Lotta’s sister, Betty, and become friends with her parents, Ingrid and Ulrich. Our family members and friends have…

After so much touring we took it easy for the remaining time in Norway, planning the next stages of the trip, running a few errands in the nearby mall, walking around the local lake, which of course included geocaching.   We said goodbye to our fantastic hosts and guides, Svein and Ragnhild, hoping to meet…

Two nights in Vinstra included a visit to Ringebou’s stave church and series of art galleries in former farm buildings. Our trip to Lillehammer, home to the 1994 Winter Olympics, was thwarted due to closed roads from recent catastrophic flooding.  The return trip to Alesund, on the Geiranger scenic highway, completed our circle tour. The…