01 to Elsau

Route 119 kilometers, cum. 119 kilometers | Elevation 130, cum. 130 meters, Distance from home 175 kilometers

Sitting here, I feel like a painter standing in front of a blank sheet of paper and not knowing how to begin. Isn’t the beginning always the hardest in many situations? That’s how I felt today when I left home. Although I started on my e-bike, it only took me directly to the train station in Sursee. My train to Basel left at 6:48 AM, and I arrived at 7:45 AM.
After the obligatory starting photo in front of the station, I set off leisurely. I didn’t know the way to the French border, so I fully relied on my Komoot. And that was a good decision. Just a few minutes later, I reached the Rhine, which I followed for several kilometers on a beautiful cycle path.
Despite the distance of 220 kilometers, I knew it would be an easy ride. Overall, it was mostly flat, and I rode primarily along a canal on well-maintained cycle paths. I only passed through a town occasionally, except for Ottmarsheim and later Neuf Brisach. In both towns, I took a break to eat and drink.
The temperatures were generally perfect. It was quite cool in the morning, but it gradually warmed up, allowing me to take off one jacket after another. It was a wonderful spring day; I couldn’t have wished for a better start to my journey.
On some of my bike rides, I’ve had to endure thigh cramps on the first day. The only solution is to get off and push the bike. Today, the cramps began after about 72 kilometers. After short walks, I was able to continue, but they kept returning. So far, this has only happened on the first day, and I have high hopes that it will be the same this time.
After settling into my accommodation in Elsau, I had to take the bike again to buy dinner and tomorrow’s provisions.
Now I’m sitting in my lovely room writing this report before I go to sleep, tired and content. 😴
https://www.komoot.com/de-DE/tour/2137119068?ref=itd

Sitting here, I feel like a painter standing in front of a blank sheet of paper, not knowing how to begin. Isn’t the beginning always the hardest part in many situations?

That’s exactly what happened to me today when I set off from home. I started on my e-bike, but it was only a short ride to the train station in Sursee. My train to Basel left at 6:48 AM, and I arrived there at 7:45 AM.

After the obligatory starting photo in front of the station, I set off leisurely. I didn’t know the way to the French border, so I relied entirely on my Komoot. And that was a good thing. After just a few minutes, I was at the Rhine, which I followed for a few kilometers on a beautiful cycle path.

I knew that despite the 220-kilometer route, it would be an easy ride. Overall, it was mostly flat, and I mostly rode along a canal on well-maintained cycle paths. I rarely passed through a town, except for Ottmarsheim and later Neuf Brisach. In both towns, I stopped for something to eat and drink.

The temperatures were generally perfect. It was quite chilly in the morning, but it gradually warmed up, allowing me to take off one jacket after another. It was a wonderful spring day; I couldn’t have wished for a better start to my tour.

On some of my bike rides, I’ve had to endure thigh cramps on the first day. The only thing that helps is getting off and pushing the bike. Today, the cramps started after about 72 kilometers. After short walks, I was able to continue, but they kept coming back. So far, this has only happened on the first day, and I have every hope that it will be the same this time.

After checking into my accommodation in Elsau, I had to take the bike again to buy dinner and tomorrow’s provisions.

Now I’m sitting in my lovely room writing this report before I go to sleep, tired and content. 😴