Andy in Sig
Vice President in Exile
- Location
- Sigmaringen, Germany
mds101 said:
The first bit from Donaueschingen goes through lovely countryside punctuated by pretty villages with timbered houses. There is also the oddity of a few spots where the river vanishes undergound in dry weather (the water leaking off to the south to reappear in the Rhine) which might be interesting for a kid. After Fridingen the river breaks through the limestone uplands of the Schwäbische Alb which means that you cycle for about 30 km through a canyon with white cliffs at the sides. There are a few castles on top of the cliffs and of course villages and isolated cafes/pubs/guesthouses along the route. If you google Naturpark Oberere Donau you should be able to get some pictures.
There's a collection of phots here:
http://images.google.de/images?hl=d...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQsAQwAA
There a handful i.e. no more than five slopes on that route but they are all short enough for a kid to push his bike up without getting dispirited. The longest must be about 50 yards. Sigmaringen to Ulm is much flatter and more open with a few towns along the way.
Ulm to Donauwörth is also flat but has some spectacular medaeval towns like Günzburg, Dillingen and Höchstädt etc.
In summer this route is regularly done by families with small kids who seem to have no difficulties. I've just written a short article on the Donaueschingen to Sigmaringen stretch for the Cycling Chat e-magazine which should be appearing here in the next day or two. If you've got any specific questions just PM me.
