Eco-Trip 2002 Switzerland

EcoTrips are positive demonstrations of alternative ways of transportation and a nice way of bringing people with ecological interests together. The idea is to travel as simply and cheaply as possible, so the accommodation is spartan and the food simple. Most participants ride recumbent bicycles, recumbent tricycles or electrically-assisted vehicles. However, vehicles as diverse as a solar-powered boat, a battery-powered Volkswagen bus and even (gasp!) an ordinary upright bicycle or two have taken part on occasion.

Tuesday 13 August 2002

Accommodation will be available at our home in Bassersdorf after 18:00 for people who want to arrive the day before the Greifensee tour. This accommodation is free, but we'll charge a small amount to cover a decent breakfast. People will have to arrange their own food for dinner - there are plenty of supermarkets and other shops around, closing time is generally 18:00.

Breakfast	08:00
Start	09:00 at Bassersdorf Railway Station
Lunch	purchase in Greifensee
Accommodation	Our home in Bassersdorf
Evening meal	19:30

We start in Bassersdorf and head south towards the Greifensee. The route takes us through some of the countryside around Zurich, with a little urban riding. The major part of the day is the ride around the Greifensee (Lake Greifen) itself, through some very picturesque areas. There are plenty of opportunities for icecream, swims, or whatever. We'll buy lunch somewhere with a nice view of the lake :-)

From Bassersdorf around the Greifensee and back to Bassersdorf is about 50 kilometres. Some people may elect to join us in Bassersdorf this evening.

Breakfast	08:00
Start	09:00 at Bassersdorf Railway Station
Lunch	purchase in Flaach
Accommodation	Youth Hostel "Belair", Schaffhausen
Evening meal	19:30

Some people may join the ride this morning, so we'll stop by the railway station on the way to collect them.

The first 15km ride gets us to Eglisau, a charming little village on Rhine River. After a short break, the ride continues another 15km, first south to Tösseg then north to Flaach, where we'll have lunch and maybe a swim in the Thur River. The road is pretty steep up out of Tösseg, but there's a nice long downhill run into Flaach to make up for it. Afterwards, it's on to Laufen, for a look at the spectacular Rheinfall (Rhine waterfall) and Schloss Laufen. The final leg of the day takes us on to Schaffhauseni, only about 4km away. We'll be overnighting in the Youth Hostel "Belair".

Breakfast	08:00
Start	Around 09:00
Lunch	purchase in Stein am Rhein
Accommodation	Schlaf Im Stroh, Rütihof
Evening meal	19:30

From Schaffhausen, some people might like to proceed on the German side of the Rhein and some on the Swiss side - the scenery is great either way. Then the two groups can meet up 9km later, at the last wooden bridge still crossing the Rhein, the bridge at Diessenhofen.

From Diessenhofen it's another 8km to Stein am Rhein, a sweet little village that has carefully maintained many of its medieval buildings and facades. The town square is especially beautiful, and we'll probably take a while to have lunch and wander about the town.

After Stein am Rhein the Rhein begins opening out into the Bodensee (Lake Constance); 16km down the road is Mannenbach. There's a ferry terminal at Mannenbach, so we will take ourselves and our bikes over to the island, explore the island, have lunch, then ride over the land bridge to the mainland and down through Konstanz to Kreuzlingen - 20 or so kilometres not counting riding around the island.

Our lodgings for the night will be in a barn at Rütihof, near Bottingen outside Kreuzlingen.

Breakfast	07:00
Start	Around 08:00
Lunch	12:00 at Wasserchloss Hagenwil
Accommodation	Schlaf Im Stroh, Oberuzwil
Evening meal	19:30

18km down the southern shore of Lake Constance is the town of Romanshorn. After a short break, we continue down the shore to Arbon, then turn inland, riding about 16km to Hagenwil for lunch in a 12th century fort. Another 9km takes us to Bischofszell through "applejuice country" - hopefully we will get some opportunities to try out the local product. This country is wonderful rolling hills, the route curves gently amongst paddocks, copses and farmhouses; it's a delight to ride through, with very little traffic. At Bischofszell we might take a slight detour to look at a lovely old stone bridge at the confluence of the Thur and Sitter Rivers.

After Bischofszell it's a short 18km to Wil, where we will be staying the night. Wil is a quiet town, but worth an evening wander. We'll be overnighting in the staw on a farm near Oberuzwil, a few kilometres outside Wil.

Breakfast	08:00
Start	Around 09:00 at Wil
Lunch	13:00, Restaurant Rossberg, Rossburg
Accommodation	Our home in Bassersdorf
Evening meal	Not provided

A 12km ride takes us from Wil through the town of Bichelsee to the actual Bichelsee itself, a tiny lake set in exceptionally beautiful countryside. A pause beside this little lake would be in order, before riding on another 19km via Turbenthal to Castle Kyburg.

Castle Kyburg is at the end of 1.5 kilometres of very steep, winding road - it is worth the effort (especially for the ride down the other side!), but it's completely optional. We'll have lunch a few kilometres further on. People who don't feel up to the climb can skip Castle Kyburg and we'll all meet up for lunch at Rossberg.

From there we carry on another 12km to Bassersdorf and the end of the tour. The airport is only a few kilometres further than Bassersdorf, so so those with afternoon flights (or train rides) home will have no problems meeting flights or whatever.

There will be a small afternoon tea to celebrate. People wanting to leave the next day can stay the night at our place.

General information