Crossing the catchment

I'm exhausted. Big day today. I knew it would be but I came further than I expected.

I figured out where the eurovelo goes thanks to Dominique. He reads the blog, figures out what I need and sends an email or a whatsapp. He sent a picture of a Swiss cow to meet Anne's challenge, and a screenshot of his warmshowers membership to meet Matt's. Yesterday he sent 6 pdf maps showing the route to Ulm.

I knew today would be tough because I was crossing from the Rhine catchment area to the Danube, which means crossing hills. Oh what hills they were! At first I thought there was something wrong with my bike because it was hard peddling on the flat bits. It seemed like the brakes were stuck on. I stopped to check and the wheels were turning just fine.

It wasn't until later I realised I was going up an almost imperceptible hill. For about 30km! It gradually got steeper and steeper so that I barely even realised how steep it was until I looked back. It just kept going and going and going. There was an old lady on an electric bike that zoomed past me. I'm thinking those electric bikes might be alright. I battled the steep part of the hill for maybe an hour. It was big!

When I got to the top I stopped to try to get a gps altitude reading but it wasn't having it. I imagine it is the highest point I've been to so far. Going down the other side was fun as it always is, but over in about 15 minutes.

I rode through Tuttlingen and found the Danube. It is little more than a creek this far up. So all I had to do was follow it. This section is the most naturally beautiful so far. From Tuttlingen I've been riding past hills and along the base of cliffs, through dense forests and the occasional village. There are so many eagles as well. I've seen maybe 50 over the last few days. I have tried to get a decent photo but I can't see it happening. Today I heard a weird scream and an eagle was attacking a big jabiru like bird. It was the jabiru that screamed. It managed to fly off and the eagle let it go.

I've gotten to a place called Hausen and camped on the banks of the Danube. I was tempted to wild camp as there are thousands of places, but I need a shower. My Lycra jacket turned out to be Lycra trousers. The picture was of a bloke wearing a jacket, but in fairness he was also wearing trousers. So I've still only got one jumper!

I'm pretty excited to continue along on my third river since Tours tomorrow. Hopefully it will be easier than today.

Photos are:
The top of the hill.
Tuttlingen.
The river at Tuttlingen.
A shrine I saw in a cave beside the bike path.
A building atop the cliff.