the planned route for 2011

The general outline of our planned trip is as follows:

First leg is from Amstserdam to Paris. We arrive in Amsterdam on the 8:30am on the 27^th and plan on 2 nights there - need to mellow from the flight:-) It's 535km to Paris though there is a strong possibility Brugge will be added.

Next leg takes us down Loire river - 475 km. This is probably the most organized cycle route of the trip - Lots of campgrounds and Chateaus.

http://www.cycling-loire.com/.

From Nantes we take the train to Carcasonne -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne Sun, sand,and beaches are next – though roads are narrow and traffic in May is expected to be heavy. This section is 555km – 6 days so arrive in Nice the night of the  16th.

Somewhere along the planning it was decided that the French Riviera, Pisa and Florence should be added - 475 km. Lately we’ve talked that if can get ahead of schedule there may be time for a day or two in Rome by train.

Now aTrain trip to COMO and then the crossing of the ALPS. 316 km – 3 days. 

http://www.veloland.ch/de/routen_detail.cfm?id=20813&tour=route&art=national

Then we follow the Rhine most of the way back to Amsterdam. 759km - 7 days.

http://www.rheinradweg.eu/de/

Total 3115 km in 31 days = 100 km per day. 36 days total for trip and including the stops in Amsterdam and Paris

That leaves 0 days of cushion. Hmmm, I guess there’s always the option to take more train/or pedal further each day.

Keep Rolling,

Pete