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Itinerary nailed down, specific recommendations for places we will visit?

Well it was a long long way to itinerary (rimshot), but got it laid out. It is 98% likely that it's set, but definitely would be happy to hear recommendations local to the places we'll go.

Hank: flies to Frankfurt, assembles bicycle in airport, rides to Amsterdam over 13 nights. Hank does not know where Hank will go specifically, which is how Hank likes it. But he does desire to ride the Nantes Brest canal, The North Brittany coast, and then up through Belgium. There is potentially a bike friendly TGV ride in Hank's future.

And Hank has now used up all of his referring to himself in the third person credits for the year.

Mom, girl, friend of girl arrive Amsterdam.

First day and night Amersfoort.

Pick up bicycles in Harderwiijk. Ride through Kampen and Genemuiden to Zwartsluis.

Two nights Zwartsluis. Ride up to and around Geithoorn during stay.

Ride through Hansiatic towns and forests to Apeldoorn.

One night Apeldoorn. See the Het Loo gardens.

Ride to Kroller Muller museum. Ride to Human and Horse Hotel. Girls get a horsey ride.

One night Human and Horse hotel.

Ride to Harderwiijk to drop off rental bikes. Train to Amsterdam. Afternoon and evening in Amsterdam.

Group splits. Me overnight train to Innsbrook. Two nights to cycle to Bolzano.

Ladies one night Amsterdam hotel.

Ladies fly to Venice early.

Ladies two nights Venice.

Regroup in Bolzano. Ladies day trip visit to Verona on the way

Two nights Bolzano. Visit Alpe di Suisi

Four nights Bruneck/Brunico. Continue to get our Dolomite on.

Three nights Munich.

Flight home via Iceland, for annual airport purchase of world's most expensive yogurt.

There she is, looking forward to it :-). Again, tips for along the way much appreciated

Posted by
10321 posts

Your style of travel is SO different than mine, I don't have any advice or counsel to provide ! You certainly have thought this all through. And it's very cool that you have your daughter bring a friend.

Have a great time, may the weather gods smile on you.

Posted by
1959 posts

Kim thanks very much for the well wishes, and particularly for the weather gods to smile on our behalf! We've done plenty of all day bike rides in the rain in our travels, and though they are never as bad as you think and usually still fun, if it never happens again that's just fine with us.

Posted by
3135 posts

Hank, I can't wait to read your trip report. Sounds like a true adventure outside of my wheelhouse.

As a cyclist the one thing I'd look at is prevailing wind direction! As you know riding against or with the wind at your back makes a difference. As a Navy veteran would say, "Fair skies and following seas."

Posted by
1959 posts

Mike you are absolutely right about the wind! It's remarkable how exposed to the environment you are on a bike. Along the French coast and up through the low countries generally speaking the wind blows south to north or southwest to northeast. I'm planning accordingly, but it can go (literally :-) sideways whenever it feels like it.

In the case of strong headwinds we let the e-bikes take turns pulling our little peloton, much easier that way.

Cheers!

Posted by
841 posts

We're passing through Reykjavik Airport soon. What is the name of the yogurt and why is the world's most expensive?

Posted by
1959 posts

We're passing through Reykjavik Airport soon. What is the name of the
yogurt and why is the world's most expensive?

I was being cheeky, no doubt one could find a more expensive yogurt elsewhere. Just referring to how expensive everything is in Iceland.

But I will say that Icelandic yogurt, aka skyr, is phenomenally good and totally worth trying. My understanding is that they have unique cultures in Iceland that make their yogurt special.

Posted by
3135 posts

It's always interesting to watch the Tour de France when there is a sudden wind change, usually a head or side wind, and the peloton gets strung out in a long line. A great opportunity to gain time for a clever opportunist.

When riding with a strong tailwind on relatively flat terrain I almost feel guilty about how easy it is.

So the E-bike rider is basically the donkey. :-)

Posted by
560 posts

Hank, I know you've been to Munich many times. When exactly are you here?

Posted by
8245 posts

Looks like a wonderful itinerary, Hank. I would absolutely love do a trip like that but I'm a less adept cyclist, so I'm better off sticking to safer modes of transport. Regardless, I'm sure you and your family will have an incredible time.

Posted by
2722 posts

Hank--The only thing I see missing is a real stop in Iceland. Then you could get your fill of Skyr for a few days. BTW, it is technically a cheese not a yogurt, but yeah it's really good!