Day 6 - Mittelberg to Lindau (68K)

Even after a couple beers outside while watching the Germany v. Italy soccer game, I was awakened to the lightening. I ignored the first few strikes but then found myself in 'Poltergeist' counting the seconds between the strikes and the thunder...sometimes 15, sometimes 2. Seeing the alps lighted up by lightening is different. Fortunately, by the time breakfast rolled around all had passed. The sun was out and the mountains called.

As usual, after breakfast, we loaded up our bikes and headed out. It was hot and sunny, but thank goodness not as hot as in Nashville!

We had been warned that this was going to be a day of climbing. Climbing we did, but there were many more down hills and flats. The intensity of the climbs was enough to leave me (47) thinking about how they would get my corpse back off the country roads if I were to have a heart attack in route. The picture of Lucas and me (close up of faces) is just after we crushed a major climb. My mantra on the way up was 'just don't die'.

That climb was precipitated by another that was a teaser. It ended at, of course, a castle. There, were met by a merry band of middle aged bikers who immediately cheered and gave us gummi bears. Lucas and their most extraverted got into a conversation about riding a Cannondale right away. Lucas said it was his 'soccer legs' that got him up the climb.

On the down hills, I wished for my Cervelo (fast bike). With this much luggage, you have to break and I longed to lean forward and hit 40. Lucas whooped as we went down a 2k run that brought us closer to the Bodensee (Lake Constance).

In Lindau, we decided to bypass the expensive, touristy section and go an additional 5k. We found a reasonable hotel 10 minutes from the Bodensee. After much needed showers, we headed there.

We had our first accident here. I was a bit ahead checking out a swimming space when I noticed that the rest of the crew had stopped. When I focused, I saw someone was on the pavement. Sho had hit some gravel and gone down fast and hard. He was bruised and his helmet was cracked in two places (wear a helmet !!) but otherwise he was fine, thank goodness.

The place where people swim would shock most Americans, and be restricted due to the likelihood of drowning. But, we loved it: an expansive lawn leading to the slippery steps into immediate 6 feet of cold water. Lucas and I swam out and back several times. It was not safe for Saya, who desperately wanted to get in. Charlie and I had to work together to give her a water experience. The boys kicked the soccer ball around until we left for dinner.

The hotel gave us a recommendation and we walked 10 minutes or so to a restaurant that had a soccer field behind it - ah, yeah!

It was so amazing to see how the boys made quick friends had a pick up game with 6+ local boys (see pic). Lucas told me all their names. If only we could get adults to find synergies so quickly!!

We met a lovely couple, Anita and Armando, we hope will visit. We also met a pug. They are the same in all cultures :)






Sent from my iPad