Before I start, I want to make clear that I like Bowser a lot. And I like doing stuff with him. But every now and then it’s also very nice to do something without him. And so last Monday I left him with Anna at his grandparents’ place while I cycled the whole day through a part of Vorarlberg. By myself, so I could just cycle in my own desired pace and stop wherever and whenever I wanted to. I could decide which route exactly to follow, without taking other people’s preferences and suggestions into account. That’s why I like doing stuff on my own. Also, I don’t like people that much.
Vorarlberg is a perfect region for mountain biking, but I’m saving the real mountains for later – maybe next year. This time I went for a relatively easy trail along the Rhine, following the river up to the point where it flows into Lake Constance. From there back south through some villages and towns. A nice route, in total about 100 km – I was quite tired in the end.
I started at the church in Rankweil, a village next to the one Bowser’s grandparents live. From there I cycled through the countryside, in the woods and along lakes to the Rhine. I followed this river up north – basically cycling on the Swiss-Austrian border – to arrive a couple of hours later in Bregenz, where I had lunch before I started on my way back.
The way back from Bregenz was a bit more of an up-and-down route than the way along the Rhine, but still nothing compared to the real mountain trails in Vorarlberg. Nonetheless, I got quite tired, probably due to the length of the route. I’m not used to cycle such a long way and in the Netherlands I would never do something like this just for fun. But when I’m on holidays, I enjoy it very much. It’s a good way to explore the surroundings and get some exercise as well.
Moreover, it’s a great way to get a sunburn, especially when you don’t take sun block with you and no shops are open. I went on the 15th of August, the day of the Assumption of Mary. I’ve never heard of this day – I guess the Dutch don’t consider it as anything important – but in Austria it’s a public holiday. And on public holidays all shops are closed.
I arrived back in Röthis tired and red, but satisfied with the fact that I cycled all day and have seen a bit more of Vorarlberg now. There’s still a lot more to see, but we’ll be back here many more times so I guess I’ll have plenty of opportunities to cycle some more. However, within a few years I’m probably gonna have to take Bowser and Watson on those cycling trips. I can already see them complain about their dad who wants to go this way and take a photo over there, and me being annoyed because I can’t just do whatever I want and have to consider what they like to do as well. I expect it’s going to be a lot of fun.
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