The Great Spirits Route
Cycling with Rik from Antwerp (BE) to Pylos (GR) - 3.000km in 30 days …
See it on the interactive map · Flyby videos
Chapters
- Day 1: Antwerp-Aachen · 3 pebbls
- Day 2: Aachen - Bad Neuenahr · 1 pebbl
- Day 3: Bad Neuenahr - Rüdesheim · 4 pebbls
- Dag 4: Rűdesheim - Erlenbach · 2 pebbls
- Dag 5: Erlenbach - Rothenburg · 4 pebbls
- Dag 6 - Rothenburg - Donauwörth · 3 pebbls
- Dag 7: Donauwörth - Schongau · 2 pebbls
- Day 8: Schongau - Innsbruck · 3 pebbls
- Day 9: Innsbruck - Bruneck · 3 pebbls
- Dag 10: Tarvisio-Ljubljana · 3 pebbls
- Day 11: Ljubljana - Opatija-Rijeka · 1 pebbl
- Dag 12: Opatija - Rab · 7 pebbls
- Dag 13: Rab - Zadar · 2 pebbls
- Dag 14: Zadar - Primosten · 3 pebbls
- Dag 15: Primosten - Vela Luka · 3 pebbls
- Dag 16: Vela Luka - Ston · 3 pebbls
- Dag 17: Ston - Dubrovnik
- Day 18: Dubrovnik - Kotor · 3 pebbls
- Dag 19: Kotor - Bar · 2 pebbls
- Day 20: Bar - Durres (Albania) · 3 pebbls
- Day 21: Durres - Vlora · 3 pebbls
- Day 22: Vlora - Himara · 3 pebbls
- Day 23: Himara - Sagiada · 2 pebbls
- Dag 24: Sagiada - Preveza · 2 pebbls
- Dag 25: Preveza - Mesolongi · 1 pebbl
- Dag 26: Mesolongi - Kouroutas · 4 pebbls
- Day 27: Kouroutas - Pylos · 2 pebbls
Day 1: Antwerp-Aachen
First Stage - 145km to Aachen, abroad as quickly as possible!
Have a great departure!
A pleasant kick-off from the Yeast Factory with coffee and croissants.
Thanks Stefan.
And thanks to the cycling buddies who got us going.
We look forward to seeing you in Croatia in two weeks!
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65km stop - Odett Beach
Aachen
First stage behind us. And, after 145km, immediately abroad.
All four legs are doing well!
Day 2: Aachen - Bad Neuenahr
From the Meuse Valley to the Rhine Valley via the Eifel. 102km - 740m elevation gain. A leisurely cycling day …
Bad Neuenahr
The landscape was less Eifel than hoped. A lot of agriculture – grain and later fruit trees. Many hills; with 790 meters of elevation gain, good training for the Alpine rides.
Day 3: Bad Neuenahr - Rüdesheim
120km along the Rhine – a long false flat, as there are still 520 meters of elevation gain.
Koblenz
Koblenz, where the Moselle and Rhine meet. A logical ‘cola stop’ – refueling with something sweet and soft drinks.
Bopard - perfect lunch stop
From Koblenz until just before Boppard, it rained continuously. But then the sky cleared up for a (pizza) lunch in Boppard.
Assmannshausen (Rűdesheim)
Glad to arrive at Hotel Post, with a warm shower after a wet and cold ride. We had quite a bit of a headwind (by 'we' I actually mean my cycling buddy LocomoRik).
Cycling along the Rhine is sometimes monotonous, but there are also plenty of postcard views.
In terms of restaurants tonight, the choice was between German, Italian, or Indian. So it was Indian, and the spirit of the day was also ‘local’ …
Dag 4: Rűdesheim - Erlenbach
125km and 620m elevation gain. A stretch of the Rhine and then via the Odenwald to the Main valley.
Writing report Day 4
The hotel owner turned out to be an Elvis fan. First, we had to cover the Rhine, but now with the wind at our backs—blissful!
The cola stop in Mainz came to nothing; the city lies on the wrong bank…
After another asparagus lunch, we dove into the Odenwald. Kilometers of forest paths and lots of trees.
Afterwards, beautiful views of this lovely region, and then—after a first climb of 180m—a wonderfully long descent on asphalt cycle paths down to the Main and our quaint little hotel.
Odenwald - gravelbike country!
Miles of forest and not a soul in sight…
Dag 5: Erlenbach - Rothenburg
130km - 1,000m elevation gain. First, a gentle ascent from the Main valley along the Erf, followed by a climb, then descending into the Tauber valley, only to climb back up to Rothenburg. Beautiful scenery on excellent cycle paths.
Miltenberg
Typical medieval town
Rothenburg
After a lovely cycle path, gently climbing along the Tauber river, and after another cold rain shower and finally a strenuous climb, we especially enjoyed the warm shower in a cozy hotel in the heart of this beautiful medieval city.
Forest paths
Rik still has breath left 🤪
Dag 6 - Rothenburg - Donauwörth
113km, 620m elevation gain. A bit quieter than yesterday. Rolling landscape. More downhill than uphill, all the way to the Danube.
Dinkelsbühl
Arrived at our first stop, after 45km, just in time for a heavy rain shower. So, had lunch straight away in a typical Gasthaus in the historic center of Dinkelsbühl.
Donauwörth
Rik and I spent the whole day on the Romantic Road. With the sun finally shining brightly, it was indeed a pleasant bike ride!
Donauwörth
Upon arrival, it turned out—quite by coincidence—that a beer festival was taking place here. The main stage is in front of our hotel.
Dag 7: Donauwörth - Schongau
Today a 123km climb of 710m elevation gain. Mostly a gentle ascent along the Lech, out of the Danube valley. Towards the end, a few tough slopes. In fact, we are starting to enter the Alps!
Landsberg am Lech
Lovely cycling on the gravel paths along the Lech. The incline is barely noticeable. Lunch in Landsberg am Lech. The landscape is gradually becoming Alpine …
Schongau
The joyful entry into Schongau, after 125 beautiful kms and 750m of elevation gain. And the welcoming committee is ready to go again 🥳
Day 8: Schongau - Innsbruck
Today the first ‘mountain ride’ from the Lech Valley to the Inn Valley. At 115km and 1,250m of elevation gain, and halfway to the Austrian border.
Nice gravel riding along a small river
Eerste bergit
After Schongau, we soon rode up the first Alpine slopes. What a feeling when you suddenly find yourself cycling among the mountains. With babbling brooks, typical chalets, lush alpine meadows, etc.
Innsbruck
First mountain stage is over 🤪
It was manageable in terms of elevation gain, but at a relaxed pace for me.
Locorikkie, aka Hanibal (not to be confused with the Cannibal) was lengths ahead again.
The descent to Innsbruck was spectacular, 600m often at 15% …
Day 9: Innsbruck - Bruneck
At 114km and especially 1,850m of elevation gain, this is the toughest climbing stage. The first 10km climb steeply with gradients of 10-15%. And unfortunately, this is not on a bike path but on the road, shoulder to shoulder with the traffic 😬
Nice gravel riding next to a small river
These are the best cycling moments. On a gravel path, along a small river, slightly downhill, and with the wind at my back 😑
Brenner not
Bruneck
Arrival at 5 pm (for me) in the attractive Dolomite town of Bruneck. After the Brenner Pass, it was more downhill than uphill, but still 750 vertical meters with tough slopes.
But the toughest stage is over, without any mishaps…
In a moment, that is, after the obligatory drink on the terrace, a nice shower back at the hotel, and exploring this beautiful little town.
Dag 10: Tarvisio-Ljubljana
After the unplanned interruption and rescheduling of the route – due to the terrible weather – we started again – back – from Austria (Villach). At 116km and 800m of elevation gain, this should be a ‘walk in the park’.
Ljubljana
We drove into Ljubljana a little later than usual. A gem of a city with at least a hundred (full) terraces… But perhaps our eyes are bigger than…
It is a pity that we are merely passing through all those beautiful cities every evening.
Bled
Bled is the ultimate postcard destination in Slovenia, and therefore very touristy.
Triglav National Park
A blessing in disguise. Because the bad weather drastically altered our route, we unknowingly ended up in a beautiful nature park. Moreover, the route started slightly downhill, along an old railway line. All's well that ends well!
Day 11: Ljubljana - Opatija-Rijeka
Today ‘only’ 110km and 880m of elevation gain.
Hopefully as beautiful as yesterday.
The destination is the hotel in Opatija where we are staying for 2 nights, and where we will meet our 7 cycling buddies tomorrow. Together, starting Sunday, we will cycle to Dubrovnik, across the Dalmatian islands, in 6 days.
We will likely be able to put on our swimsuits for the first time!
Opatija (Rijeka)
After a reasonable – somewhat boring – ride of 115km and about 900m of elevation gain, 80% of which was along or on busy roads, there was suddenly the Mediterranean Sea!
It is certainly special to land here from the North Sea.
The hotel, where 7 cycling buddies from Schoten will join us tomorrow, is quite a few stars higher than what we are used to. But we have already enjoyed it to the fullest.
Dag 12: Opatija - Rab
Yesterday, 7 cycling buddies from Kingsgarden CC arrived at the hotel.
For Rik and me, it was another opportunity to maintain our bikes and gear. The first ride goes via Rijeka, across a bridge to the island of Krk, and then from a southern port by ferry to the island of Rab.
Hotel Navis in Opatija
Lunch in Beach Bar
After 60km, lunch in an exotic beach bar. Another 4 km to the first ferry,
Rab harbour
84km of actual cycling (the rest were ferry kilometers) and 1,050m of elevation gain.
The first part was before, through, and after Rijeka. Less enjoyable. Afterwards, the landscape became increasingly beautiful. Finally, a 1.5-hour ferry ride to the island of Rab. That immediately gave us that 100% holiday feeling.
Dag 13: Rab - Zadar
117km - 970hm. After a short ferry from Rab harbour to Tavarnele, we first cross the backbone of the elongated island of Pag. It is already 22 degrees in the morning …
Ferry from Rab to Pag Island
Pag eiland
Dag 14: Zadar - Primosten
Langs de Eurovelo route 8
En route
Wonderful ride! Partly on the road, but also along gravel paths, coastal roads, and beach promenades. Croatia is an incredibly beautiful country! But unfortunately, we rarely have time to look around, barely enough time to take a photo…