16 to Riga

Route: 53 kilometers, accumulated: 1,408 kilometers | Elevation: 210, accumulated elevation: 5,170 meters, distance from home: 1,536 kilometers (as the crow flies).

Today, I felt just as uncomfortable on the road with traffic as I did on the federal road. The distances were rarely at least 1 m. Although in the entire EU, there is a minimum distance of 1.50 m up to 50 km/h and even more at higher speeds. Did you know that this regulation also applies in Switzerland?

A special experience was undoubtedly that the official bike path suddenly crossed a railway line. I had already experienced that once on the Camino de Santiago in Spain during my Iberotour.

Actually, one knows that you should never cross the tracks. And then something like that! And on top of that with the heavy e-bike with luggage. How would you have reacted? I listened, heard nothing, and then crossed with my push aid in an estimated 30 seconds. About 5 minutes later, when I had to cross the tracks again on a street just 300 meters away, the train came. 🙏

During the subsequent passage through a forest, there were two fallen trees on the bike path. However, I was not the first as I had already found an alternative path that went around the tree.

Once again along a street, I discovered a car wash where I could measure and refill the tire pressure. And it was also time to wash off some dirt.

When I arrived at the entrance sign of Riga, it took a while longer until I finally reached the center. I had to cross the suburbs, which, like in many big cities, are characterless. Therefore, I didn't take any photos. Even more so in the city, which I visited years ago with the Sursee sailing club. I will visit more places that we already visited back then.

To get to my hotel, I had to cross the large suspension bridge that spans the Daugava. But to get up there, I had to go up 4 flights of stairs to reach the bike path. Despite the push aid, it was a sporting challenge.

Although today was a short trip, I was glad to soon reach the hotel that I had chosen.

https://www.komoot.com/de-DE/tour/2186023068?ref=itd

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**Español:**

Hoy me he sentido tan incómodo en la calle con tráfico como en la carretera nacional. Las distancias rara vez eran de al menos 1 m. Aunque en toda la UE, hasta 50 km/h, se aplica una distancia mínima de 1,50 m y más aún a mayores velocidades. ¿Sabías que esta regulación también aplica en Suiza?

Una experiencia especial fue sin duda que el carril bici oficial cruzaba repentinamente una línea de tren. Ya lo había vivido una vez en el Camino de Santiago en España durante mi Iberotour.

En realidad, uno sabe que nunca debe cruzar las vías. ¡Y luego algo así! Y además con la pesada bicicleta eléctrica con equipaje. ¿Cómo habrías reaccionado? Escuché, no oí nada, y luego crucé con mi ayuda para empujar en unos 30 segundos estimados. Aproximadamente 5 minutos después, cuando a solo 300 metros de distancia tuve que cruzar nuevamente las vías en una calle, llegó el tren. 🙏

Durante el posterior cruce de un bosque, había dos veces un árbol caído en el camino bici. Pero no fui el primero, porque ya encontré un camino alternativo que rodeaba el árbol.

Nuevamente a lo largo de una calle, descubrí un autolavado donde pude medir y rellenar la presión de los neumáticos. Y también era hora de quitar un poco de suciedad.

Cuando llegué al cartel de entrada de Riga, tardé un rato en llegar finalmente al centro. Tuve que cruzar los suburbios que, como en muchas grandes ciudades, son anónimos. Por eso tampoco tomé fotos. Más aún en la ciudad, que visité hace años con el club de navegación Sursee. Visitaré más lugares que ya conocimos en ese tiempo.

Para llegar a mi hotel, también tenía que cruzar el gran puente colgante que atraviesa el Daugava. Pero para llegar allí, tenía que subir 4 tramos de escaleras para alcanzar el carril bici. A pesar de la ayuda para empujar, fue una empresa deportiva.

Aunque hoy fue un recorrido corto, estaba feliz de llegar pronto al hotel que elegí.

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**English:**

Today, I felt just as uncomfortable on the road with traffic as I did on the federal highway. The distances were rarely at least 1 m. Although in the whole EU, a minimum distance of 1.50 m applies up to 50 km/h and even more at higher speeds. Did you know that this regulation also applies in Switzerland?

A special experience was surely that the official bike path suddenly crossed a train line. I experienced that once before on the Camino de Santiago in Spain during my Iberotour.

Actually, one knows that you should never cross the tracks. And then something like that! And on top of that with the heavy e-bike with luggage. How would you have reacted? I listened, heard nothing, and then crossed with my push aid in an estimated 30 seconds. About 5 minutes later, when I had to cross the tracks again on a street just 300 meters away, the train came. 🙏

During the subsequent passage through a forest, there were two fallen trees on the bike path. However, I was not the first as I had already found an alternative path that went around the tree.

Once again alongside a street, I discovered a car wash where I could measure and refill the tire pressure. And it was also time to wash away some dirt.

When I arrived at the entrance sign of Riga, it took a while longer until I finally reached the center. I had to cross the suburbs, which, as in many big cities, are characterless. Therefore, I didn't take any photos. All the more so in the city, which I already visited years ago with the Sursee sailing club. I will visit more places that we already visited then.

To get to my hotel, I had to cross the large suspension bridge that spans the Daugava. But to get up there, I had to go up 4 flights of stairs to reach the bike path. Despite the push aid, it was a sporting challenge.

Although today was a short trip, I was glad to reach the hotel I had chosen soon after.