Radmarathon

What we like - Day 51. Riding the Balinea Thermen Radmarathon.

Five differing distances, five differing profiles, five differing ways to "feel the burn". There was the "family ride" (of 35k or 21 miles), then a 75K, a 110K, 155K and a 240K. Knowing our own limitations (not being Tour de France riders, that is, and not having the high-tech Rennrads) we opted for the 75K (that is, 46.6 Miles).

Want to know the route? Pull up your Google Earth (or use MapMyRide) and input the bold names in the text below to ride along! We were on the main roads and bike trails (but not the Autobahn, ok?)

The day was lovely, although it was looking to be a little on the warm side, so we got an early start. Leaving Bad Bellingen at 8:15am, we proceeded south to Efringen, then on to Egringen. From there it was a nice ride up the valley (Kandertal) passing by Holzen and on to Riedlingen.

Madge can ride her bike with no handlebars, no handlebars, no handlebars ... (sorry, gratuitous song reference)

Above: Paul and Madge on the trail between Holzen and Riedlingen

Madge at the first checkpoint in Kandern (25K and going strong)

Above: Some of the "competition" - okay, there was not really a competition, these are just the profis in their blue club Tricots (a Velo club from Dornach, Switzerland). The blue team was riding the 110K distance. Some other Swiss riders (at the table) were also riding the 75K. We rode as a loose group with them for most of the distance.

From Kandern we proceeded on through Sitzenkirch, Johannesbreite, Sehringen and on to Badenweiler.

Madge climbing up towards Badenweiler. This part of the ride was lovely - in the shade and with gorgeous views!

Looking out at the valley from up on the mountain.

Another view of the valley.

... and Madge heads down a little hill and around the corner.

At the bottom of the hill, we rode through Badenweiler, then on up a hill through Schwärze (small enough that you will not find it on Google Earth). We hit 63KPH (that's about 38MPH) coming down the hill into Britzingen.

Riding through the vineyards above Britzingen, we saw this neat sign for a little Dorf (very small village) called Muggardt. We like foxes. ^..^

We then wound our way through Laufen and Dottingen, with another checkpoint coming up in Heitersheim.

Madge at the last checkpoint in Heitersheim (50K in only 25K to go). They had water and snax at both checkpoints and we re-tanked our water bottles at each stop.

Some lovely flowers along the road.

We like poppies.

If you are still Google-mapping the route (you are? cool!), from Heiterseheim, we rode on through Grißheim, Zienken, and Neuenburg. The wind was right in our face and the sun was hot! It took a bit of work to get back to Bad Bellingen (and I had put the camera away to concentrate on riding), but we made it! Next on le Menu - a Tour in France (but not "le Tour").

Happy trails, everyone!

up the Alp at Engelberg, part I - Getting There

Last Sunday we took a trip to Engelberg, Switzerland to climb an Alp, and we were not disappointed! Below is a picture story of our trip up:

Our adventure began by an hour long warm up walk up the valley from Engelberg to Fürenalp.

The sound of cowbells fill the air!

Do you see that tip of rock...that is where we are going!

Thank Goodness it is 2009 or I don't think I'd be doing this.

Here comes our ride....

there goes the lift house...

..and more up....

Almost there....

.... this is what greets us! And who says we were not in church!?

Schluchseelauf May 9, 2009

The location of our 18K occurred about an hour north of us in the Black Forest. Good thing the surrounds are beautiful and flat and that I had a great walking buddy or it would have been an extremely long afternoon around the Schluchsee. However, I knew it was going to turn out to be a good day as we left Rümmingen with plenty of time. Time enough that we stopped at a Floemarkt for about thirty minutes; which was long enough for me to pick up a small wooden hand crank coffee grinder with Schwarzwald written on it plus the fifty or so years' worth of grease to add to its "antique" value. I also picked up a cold-war era gas mask for 5 euro's...don't ask, it was for Paul. And he was thrilled!

Group warm-ups 15 minutes before start time at 2 pm

Another walking buddy of our group, red shirt and back pack.

And we are off!

A look across the lake to where we will be in about an hour.

My walking buddy Susi. We made it to the end of the See. Now we need to turn the corner and head up the far side.

Walking the end of the See.

The American flag caught my eye from across the lake! and upon looking closer I saw drums, so I thought there must be fifes there as well. And sure enough after we turned the corner to walk up the far side of the See we heard the fifes and drums playing. I even knew the tunes and it help me walk alittle faster, as they were playing a quicker march tempo.

We made it to the other end of the Schluchsee, now for a break of bananas and Iso drink.

This is at the other end of the See...

and the view behind me...breathing taking. We have 10K more to walk.

At Aha, we are almost there..about 5K left..we are getting leg tired.

The last break at Aha, before the final push....

we could have taken a sail boat around the See, but we walked....

...and finished in THREE hours! Yahoo for us!

I must add that during the last 5K my thoughts were on a verse..."I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!" and I kept walking...So thanks Jesus!

Magnitude 4.5 - FRANCE-GERMANY BORDER REGION

The shake happened at 3.39 this morning. Paul and I both woke up but were really nonplussed by the whole event. I guess if it had lasted longer we would have gotten the children up and taken the appropriate action. But as it was, it reminded us of the furnace in our old house on Micheals Road. So we rolled over.

I have friends who did not take it so relaxed, it really bothered then.

check out this link and get all of the map facts, shake facts and where facts from the US gov, no less:
earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/dyfi/events/us/2009ggaf/us/index.html

whopiee sledding! do you remember the JOY!

OK>.......so I am catching up on some lost video from the passed! enjoy! hey this is acting as my scrapbook...enjoy the hoots at the end of the run..remember the JOY of a long hill? I do, but my hills were not close to being this long!

Nature at Her best!

This is what Wils and I were greeted with this frosty morning, March 18, 2009. I have rarely seen anything so beautiful as what met our eyes. Enjoy God's gift to us.

I wish I could have the music of the Frost Fairies from Fantasia playing for you.

(click for closer view)

IMG_5318.JPG

thursday, New Year's walk, 2009

While Paul was off to Zurich to pick up Vaden from a TCK retreat, the rest of us went for a quick walk at dusk. Enjoy: