London -Erbil(Iraq) on 2 wheels

[Tigerbiten]

Look up the long distance D-routes in Germany and join them together.
The D8 (Rhine) -> D5 (Main) -> D9 (Canal) -> D6 (Danube) is probably the easiest route to navigate and is almost the shortest.
That's the route I followed when I went that way.
Also you can probably find online guides for each section of that route.

You can shorten it a little by cutting corners (Frankfurt -> Nuremberg direct) but at the risk of more complex navigation.

Luck ...........

 

[Brains]

Hi
Thank you
where exactly or near which city I have to leave Rhine and join Danube canal to Danube River

use this to plan your route
https://cycle.travel/map

You leave the Rhine at Mainz
Onto the River Main
Past Frankfurt
At Nurnburg,

Either follow the new Rhein/Main/Danube Canal
OR
Take the nicer route by following the old Fossa Carolina route via Roth, Treuchtlingen and Weißenburg in Bayern on the Altmuhl river​

Join the Danube at Kelheim

You can either leave the Danube at Belgrade and go across country,
OR
Go all the way to Silistra and then go south to the Turkish border​

Next stop, Istanbul !

 

[jay clock]

Sounds like a great ride. Do you have previous cycle touring experience? If not a few days away beforehand will help.

At a practical level be ready for potential issues in eastern Turkey where border crossings and the whole area are likely to be suspicious or at least curious about your intentions. Do you still have an Iraqi passport or just UK? Presumably if UK you are aware of the requirements for getting into Iraq? (I don't, and don't want to patronise you, as you are probably well aware). I am guessing that for Turkey you will get a warmer and less critical reception from officials if you just go down the simple route of "I am British"....and don't voice any opinions about the Kurds.....

All the Crazy Guy blogs I have read on Turkey and the Middle East (inc Iran, and until the war, Syria) suggest that the biggest problem you will encounter is the sheer friendliness and warmth of welcome and offers of tea, food and lodging.

To my knowledge you will be the first cycle tourist I will have heard of in Iraq for many years or even decades!

Happy cycling!

 

[jay clock]

....and if you can see it in your schedule to set up and write a Crazy Guy journal I would love to follow it.....

 

[Brains]

....and if you can see it in your schedule to set up and write a Crazy Guy journal I would love to follow it.....

URL ?
I could not find it

 

[jay clock]

URL ?
I could not find it

I was asking him to do one. No idea if he is

 

[Brains]

Yeah!
he has got as far as Slovenia!

 

[Brains]

https://www.facebook.com/Road2Erbil/

 

[ebahassan]

Hi Folks
I’m doing well, I arrived in Belgrade yesterday, resting today then off to Sofia then Turkey
You can follow me on instagram and Facebook Road2Erbil
Soon I will publish my daily blogs on Crazy guy on the bike as well

 

[ebahassan]

Will post photos

 

[Blue Hills]

Hi Folks
I’m doing well, I arrived in Belgrade yesterday, resting today then off to Sofia then Turkey
You can follow me on instagram and Facebook Road2Erbil
Soon I will publish my daily blogs on Crazy guy on the bike as well

Don't like fb so look forward to crazyguy link.
All the best

 

[Blue Hills]

I re-planned my route using cycle travel maps

Do you mean the cycletravel online route planner or traditional maps?

 

[Brains]

The lad is getting a move on! Hungry today

Today he seems to have been following Eurovelo 6.
Taking the more direct main road routes rather than following cycle route along the Danube (which I would have thought maybe slower but flatter and more pleasant )

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I follow him on FB, he's got friends or family allover Europe, brilliant!
@ebahassan you are doing great.
Are you uploading to Strava?

 

[Brains]

FB Page removed ??
I was wondering how he was getting on ?
Probably would be in Turkey by now