Introduction

When you look at a bicycle, what do you see? Two wheels, a set of handlebars, a chain, some pedals and a frame culminating in a seat only the most masochistic of athletes would actually consider sitting on.

What does a touring cyclist see? Opportunity.














Touring by bicycle - faster than on foot, slower than by car or train - opens up a world of experiences. The whirr of your chain is the one constant as the towns slip smoothly by the wayside. And each new turn offers a gift. Some sort of revelation. A unique moment presented only to you the cyclist, who sees more of the countryside than backpackers or drivers can ever imagine.

This site is a compilation of photographs taken on a self-supported, 10-country bicycle tour of Europe from May to August of 2005. Browse, enjoy and feel free to dream.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FRANCE
Along the Loire river; D'Orleans to Tours


Vineyards of the Loire valley


D-day beaches


Northern coast; Cliffs of Etretat


People-watching in Lille Flandres


BELGIUM
Following the canals


NETHERLANDS
Lots of grass... helps feed the sheep


GERMANY
Criss-crossing the deep divide


Swiss-Bohemia National Park


CZECH REPUBLIC
All the way through


Cesky Krumlov


AUSTRIA
A Blue Danube waltz


SWITZERLAND
Foot of the Alps


A four-day trek


On top of the world


Gimmelwald, Swiss National Day


ITALY
Cinque Terra National and Marine park


Venice


Florence


Tuscan countryside


La Spezia sunset


Pompeii


GREECE
Greek Island