Day 11 – Fri 20 Jun 14, Lindau to Konstanz (Germany)

Forecast: 9-22 deg C, cloudy but fine; Listed Distance: 56km; Distance travelled: 50km; Cumulative distance: 334km; Lindau: 15 deg C; Konstanz: 21 deg C; Wind: SW 8km/h; Av speed: 15 km/hr; Ride time: 3h04m

After a leisurely breakfast, we left Lindau at 8:45am for Konstanz. It was a slower day due to the large number of bikes on the way and the scenery that Greg kept stopping to photograph.  This area seems to be a large wine area, although we didn't see any cellar doors to taste the local brew. We eventually made it to Friedrichshafen and visited the Zeppelin museum. What an amazing aircraft; the luxury on board is more so than today and you have to wonder why we can't replicate that on today's aircraft.  It is a shame they didn't continue to develop the concept further.

After the museum we found a spot overlooking the lake and a boat club and had our lunch.  It was a bit chilly as the wind was quite a cool one so we didn't linger.

The ride from Friedrichshafen to Meersburg was pleasant in places and not so in others.  There were lots of small towns to ride through with locals none too pleased there were cyclists on the road.  There were some big trucks as well.  On the plus side there were some vineyards, fruit crops (raspberries, strawberries and cherries) and dairies (complete with smelly barns).  We got a few spots of rain, but not enough to make us stop and don the wet weather gear.

We arrived at Meersburg about 12:45pm, found the ferry ticket office, bought a ticket, had an ice cream and waited for the ferry.  We did not have to wait long as it arrived about 1:15pm for a 1:25pm departure.  The tickets cost EUR10 (A$14.50) each, went via Mainau Island and were in Konstanz about an hour after we left.  After getting off the ferry, Greg successfully navigated the way our ‘home’ for the next 2 nights (Aqua Hotel) and we arrived about 3pm.

We showered and did the washing, had a LLD then walked into the city about 4.2km) for dinner.  We found a quiet little Italian restaurant that didn't have TV (needed to get away from the World Cup) and Wendy had a pizza and Greg had seafood salad with beers.  All very nice.   It was then a slow walk back to hotel to bed.


Greg on the ferry

Aqua hotel and our room

Early evening on the Rhine in Konstanz

Ship, airship and airplane comparison

Aqua hotel and our room

Apple orchard

Yep, that too!

A Zeppelin car

Zeppelin lounge and sleeping compartments (below)


Flowers, flowers, and more flowers

One of the many vineyards

Hagnau, a wine area

Meersburg

Wendy on the ferry

\Some should just not bathe in public!

A few hangers-on


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