Good-bye to the Rhine, hello to the mountains

 As full summer hit us we cycled off up the Rhine to Lake Constance, Europe's third largest body of water. The route passed through fields of wildflowers,

followed the railway,

then took us past apple trees 

and rosebushes as we arrived at the border crossing from Switzerland back into Germany. 

Konstanz, the town, has a gorgeous waterfront, with a tree-lined promenade, 

beautiful homes,

and castles, whose grounds were great for cartwheel practice.

Our first evening there we took a walk along the path to a long pier that sloped right down into the lake

then returned back to the campground for dinner under a purple moonlit sky.

The next day we explored the narrow streets,

the Münster cathedral, 

and the Rathaus

then beat the heat at the extensive pool complex near our campground. When we weren't doing laps in the Olympic sized pool or careening down the waterslides 

we lounged on the grass in the shade of the leafy trees.

We left Konstanz via a ferry 

to the north side of the lake. The paths were busy with cyclists eager to enjoy the area's scenic vineyards 

and fruit orchards, where tiny roadside stands advertised "delicious cherries"

and apricots for sale - exact change only please, to be deposited in unmanned cash boxes.

There was a lot to admire in the built environment as well. The Schloss Montfort, the former palace of King Wilhelm, arose from the water in Langenargen, while 

a fierce lion guarded Lindau's harbour. 

We arrived in Lindau just in time to enjoy the 11:45 am daily concert at the town square, when shutters opened and a glockenspiel emerged like something out of a fairy tale.

During our tour of the north side of the lake we were often accompanied by blimps in the sky, 

doing circuits around Friedrichshafen, the town where the zeppelin was invented. Kyra climbed aboard one in the playground.

It was extremely hot, and a wiped out Tom sought comfort from Jacob as we took a break in the shade (a nice change from the fist-fighting the two often engage in).

All around the lake were beautiful gardens and plantings.

Our last stop on the lake, and where we said our good-bye to the waters that made up the Rhine, was Bregenz. Towering mountains fittingly announced our entrance us to Austria, along with more beautiful waterfront parks, where we picnicked in the shade.

 For a taste of the mountains we boarded a gondola 

and took to the sky

for a view of the city

and some alpine hiking. The station at the top was a nice place for a contemplative morning coffee

before we started our trek down the mountain.

It was a great preview of the heights that we would soon encounter in Innsbruck and beyond...