10 June 2013 Today we took a tour up to the Black Forest here in Germany. The Romans gave the forest it's name. It's where the folk stories like Hansel & Gretel came from. Also where the farmers, bored during winters, started making cuckoo clocks. Photos of "worlds largest cuckoo clock" Most passengers were very impressed, but it was so similar to forests we cycled through in Switzerland (not that far away) that the forest, farms, and houses were common to Shar & I. This evening, Shar & I and a couple from England won the music trivia quiz and received a free bottle of wine ! They were so grateful that we just gave it to them, they offered to buy us a specialty coffee ! We are meeting lots of very nice people onboard. And interesting. River is rising fast so we headed down river early today. We have 4 locks to clear and some have a vertical clearance problem. When the river rises 3 feel, we get real close. The entire top deck folds down and the bridge is on an elevator so we can slip under some of the locks. Interesting process.

On to the river cruise

Sunday 9 June 2013 Our hotel in Basel was excellent in most ways. (do you see something coming?) Location was great. Super helpful staff. Big room. Comes with pass for local transit. But a new AC unit is being installed, so no cooling in the room. The weather is great so just open the window. Which overlooks a street which has a trolly go by all night long. Too much noise with the window open. But we did OK. Sunday morning we went to church with the Basel 1st ward. They had an interpreter but the electronics weren't working so we struggled to catch a few german words. An investigator was asked to come up and bear his testimony. Turns out he is a catholic priest and ended with " I'm so happy that I will be baptised soon". Then on to the Viking river cruise. We show up at the dock - no boat. If you have been following the weather in europe, you know about the flooding. The flooding caused 2 problems. Too difficult to navigate in the Rhine gorge. And water too high for the ships to get under some bridges. So we were bussed 50 miles down river to the boat located where our first full day is to begin. Got to be flexible when you travel! We are in Breisach Germany. Ship has free email most of the time, so contact is good this week. The boat (ship) is made such that the entire top can be made to lay down flat. The railings, canopies, wheelhouse, and windbreaks all can fold down so the boat can fit under some tight bridges and locks.

End of our Swiss bike ride adventure

8 June 2013 Today we finished our 4 days bike ride (252.3 km), turned in our bikes and caught the train to Basel. So some coments about it. Switzerland has bike trails all over the place, well marked intersections and a good amount are off road or at least off main roads. We started on route 99 - the Heart Route. The name could be from how your heart feels when you see some of the scenery. But it isn't. The name comes from the feeling of your heart beating so hard it is like getting ripped out of your chest at the top of the next hill! Some of the trails kept going up even when your vision tells you it HAS to be the highest place around, The trade off are the views. And seeing how typical Swiss live. Their homes, farms, businesses. You REALLY need to try this sometime. You see the world differently as you bike ride by instead of train, bus or plane by at a high rate of speed. We probably did more than most, but if you come to Switzerland, plan at least 1 day and rent a Flyer bike and see. The last day we took other routes ( 94, 24, 84) In the valleys instead over the hills. Busier, more on roads, less scenery; but still worthwhile. Then the the train to Basel and rush on Saturday afternoon to find a laundry service ! Here, it's called a "Wash & Dry" And everything is closed on weekends. But we finally found a place that would stay open for us. 4 days of bike riding, we REALLY need it! $44 for 2 loads of laundry and we can't complain. Our hotel has a loaner bike, so there is Stuart carefully riding a bike with clean laundry strapped on the back of the bike. Tomorrow, Sunday, it's off to church at 10 then headed for the Viking Cruise dock about 3km down river.

June 6th day 2 on the bikes

Things went much better today. We covered 58 KM (only). The Alps were in the background most of the day. Going through farms and forests. Swiss loggers and farmers do many things that are the same as those in the US but some things very differently. They farm VERY steep fields. Tractors when possible, small tractors (size of a rototiller) in steeper areas and scythe where even steeper. Very little waste of land. The roads we travel are used also for vehicles and farm equipment but are not as wide as our discovery trail. We arrived in Langnau mid-afternoon. Much better than yesterday when we didn't get to the motel until almost 8pm. The bikes we are using are Swiss "flyer" bikes. Electrical assist, but only assist when you are working the pedals. They are helpful, especially on the uphills, but you still have to do a lot of work. They are very heavy. No gears to shift, you change gears only when not pedaling and the computer changes the internal gears for you. Note : I spent 2 hours today trying to download a photo. You see how successful I was !

Over estimating ability on a bike

We just got in after our ride today.   The ride was wonderful, interesting, extremely picturesque, and exhausting.   From Murten to Thun on mostly back roads.

Too tired to write more right now.   We covered 93 KM in one day.   I'm tired.   Shar is more exhausted than I've ever seen her.

We'll see how tomorrow works !

Getting High

Today we went to " The Top Of Europe"
Taking trains and cog railroads from 1,800 feet up to 11,000+ feet.  The sun finally came out today.  The scenery and views were unbelievable.  Yesterday we looked up the cliffs and thought that was the top of the mountains.  Today we see that there are villages above the cliffs and more small farms.  I tried taking photos but they just can't do justice to what you see.  Up at the top Shar could feel her bad lung screaming for oxygen, so we did not spend extra time on top.  Besides, it was negative degrees up there.

Stopped in Wengen on the way down for lunch.  You can't believe way you see from there.

Then down the hill and a train to Murten where we begin our bike riding.

Barcelona photos

Interlaken

Interlaken June 3rd 2013 Interlaken is great! I found a WONDERFUL bakery ! Even Shar will agree this stuff is amazing. Bikes today ! We rented some electrically assisted bikes today and rode up to Lauderbrunnen. About 30 km. They have more variety of bikes here than I have ever seen. Quite a few that have electric assist motors. Our bikes even had an option for an automatic transmission. (understand, they cost $3,800) Amazing how much easier it is to climb hills! So we cycle up this valley that is like Yosemite on steroids. The valley of 72 waterfalls. Amazing to be cycling through it all; words cannot describe the scenery. We stopped at several waterfalls including one that is inside the mountain. That's right, inside. The Swiss have cut pathways inside the mountain so we can see. All the time 12,000 foot mountains are in the background.

Sunday in Interlaken

Sunday in Interlaken June 2nd 2013 Always fun to find a unit of the church. We caught an early bus to the region near the church building and walked the rest of the way. We were the first ones there so we stood in the rain and cold wind. Finally another member showed up. He didn't have key. Then a sister. No key. Turns out the Branch President is on vacation in Portugal. Finally a key showed up and freezing Shar could get warm. A sister is assigned to translate so we go to listen in English. (this part of Switzerland speaks german) After church, we just rode around in the community buses (we have a free pass from our hotel) so we got little familar with the area. The sun popped out a bit in the afternoon so now we know there are mountains around! Some pretty big ones. Parasailing is big here and its been 3 weeks since they could operate. Dozens were coming down in town this afternoon.

On to Interlaken

Travel to Interlaken, Switzerland June 1st 3013 EARLY morning wake up (had to be to the airport by 6:15 AM) EasyJet flight to Geneva Switzerland. (EasyJet is europe's version of Southwest Air) At the airport is a train station which connects to everything. The Swiss railroad system is marvelous! On time, quiet, often, comfortable. We took the long route over the mountains instead of the fast route. Very rainy day with clouds so we did not get to see some of the spectacular scenery I'm sure was around us. But we saw enough that it was worthwhile. Over the passes, small villages, homes, rivers, etc. 4 easy connections and we arrived in Interlaken. Totally socked in by clouds. They say the mountains are wonderful here. I only see clouds. They say this is the worst spring weather in over 30 years. Yea us ! Motel turned out to be 1/2 block from the train station, whew. Nothing fancy (Best Western) but clean. (and the next day we discover it has a nice mountain view from our balcony)

Barcelona

Barcelona May 31st 2013 Arrived early in the morning in Barcelona on the cruise ship. We had arranged a city tour and transportation to our motel before we left. The tour took us to Mount Jew, a tall lookout mountain between Barcelona and the sea. Great view over a large portion of the city. Then some other sights. Then to Gaudi. Gaudi was a Barcelona based architect/designer. And he made / designed some really interesting and kind of bizarre buildings, parks & statues. The buildings look like fairy tale buildings (or horror stories) He made what is now a very popular city park. You would have to see it to believe it. I think he was a mad genius. It's eye candy ! Early afternoon we went to the motel. Talk about "modern" The room was unlike any motel room I have been in. Later, Erik, Timm, Megan, Kelli & I took a subway into town, The "Las Ramblas" section. Lots of people, lots of stores. Loved the farmer's market. You would not believe everything there. Amazing variety of candies. Then there was the meat market. Can you say goat head? Kelli was creaped out. It was a great evening.