Camaraderie Is Key
As always, camaraderie is the key to SisterBike. Each trip renews and strengthens
old friendships, while also introducing first-timers to the team. There is no need for me to use gimmicks to encourage German-U.S. friendships - they sprout spontaneously!
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Enjoying the mountain scenery at one of many road roadside vistas
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To wrap up this report and excite you about the next trip, here is a tentative itinerary for SisterBike XVIII. One fun item - we loved the funicular up to the Ljubljana castle and I have already planned the farewell dinner menu for the best restaurant in Freiburg. As an added plus, it is on a hill - reachable by a funicular! The menu I have reserved in that restaurant includes shrimp salad, lobster ravioli, roasted Angler fish, and roasted lamb noisettes. If these do not make your mouth water, I do not know what will.
Tentative Itinerary for SisterBike XVIII (October 2018)
Day 1, October 16: Freiburg
Individual arrival in Freiburg. This sunny town in the foothills of the Black Forest has a lot to offer: a lovely, historical town center with picturesque alleys, the famous
Freiburger Bächle, and cultural and historical monuments like the minster and numerous wine and snack bars where you can fortify yourself before your bike tour. We will stay at the Hotel Central.
Day 2, October 17: Freiburg to Endingen (approx. 33 km)
We start our first bike tour beneath the vineyards of the sunny
Kaiserstuhl (Emperor's Chair). The region is one of the sunniest in Germany. Today's destination is the medieval framework town of Endingen. We will overnight at the Hotel Garni Pfauen and have dinner at
Schindler's Ratsstube.
Day 3, October 18: Endingen to Rust (approx. 34 km)
Via the wine town of Sasbach we will reach the banks of the Rhine, then continue through green meadows alongside the river and travel a short stretch on the Rhine dyke towards Rust. This small town in Baden is known for the Europapark, a theme park with many attractions. We will stay at the Hotel Rebstock, with dinner at the hotel.
Day 4, October 19: Rust to Strasbourg (approx. 47 km)
Once again we will travel along the Rhine, with the beautiful backdrop of the Black Forest on our right. The beautiful Alsace city of Strasbourg with its attractive town center is the highlight of the day, as well as our overnight location. We will stay at Hotel Diana Dauphine and enjoy dinner at
L'Alsace à Table.
Day 5, October 20: Strasbourg local touring
No biking today, as we will have a guided walking tour of the city, including the European Parliament, in German and English. We will again stay at Hotel Diana Dauphine and are free to make our own dinner arrangements.
Day 6, October 21: Strasbourg to Obernai (approx. 57 km)
In the morning we will have sufficient time for more sightseeing in Strasbourg before we cycle along the Euro Bike Trail to Molsheim, home of the car manufacturer Bugatti. From here on we will be traveling along the Alsace wine road. This day's destination is the pretty wine town of Obernai, where we will spend the night at Hotel La Diligence and dine at
La Halle aux Bles.
Day 7, October 22: Obernai to St. Hippolyte (approx. 35 km)
We will continue southwards on the Route du Vin along an attractive stretch of road that will take us through lush vineyards and past lovely Alsace towns with beautiful and colorful truss buildings. Via Dambach-la-Ville we will reach St. Hippolyte, uniquely located beneath the majestic
Hochkönigsburg castle. We will overnight at Hotel Munsch aux Ducs, with dinner at the hotel.
Day 8, October 23: St. Hippolyte to Colmar (approx. 29 km)
The last day on the Alsace Wine Road will take us through romantic towns, where medieval alleys invite us to stroll. As we continue to Colmar we will explore the beautiful truss houses in Gerbergasse or the world famous
Isenheimer Altar in the Unterlinden Museum (included). We will spend the night in Eguisheim at the Mercure Hotel, with dinner at the hotel.
Day 9, October 24: Colmar to Freiburg (approx. 60 km)