I’m currently sitting in the most amazing bathhouse in the world. This campground, recommended by my Canadian neighbors, includes the usual shared camping field, now packed with cycle tourists. The palatial bathhouse must have been built recently, with little expense spared.
I started the morning walking to the supermarket with Brent, Rhonda, and Laura. Afterwards we traded maps (Germany for Austria) and recommendations for Regensburg and Romania/Bulgaria/Turkey. Then, packed up but leaving gear with the Canadians, I cycled into town.
The Thurin and Taxis princely family still lives in the castle/palace. I took the guided tour, at a reduced rate since the German tour provided me only a portable audio guide. This family created and ran the first postal system in Germany, and worked their way up through the nobility.
I then wandered to the cathedral, with the highest tower in [something or other]; big enough I couldn’t get all of the church in a single frame! There I ran into Jesse and Eve, touring the town before heading out, so we had one last call touring the cathedral together. After that (and a quick stop by Tourist Information providing free wifi), I headed back to camp, where I ran back into the Canadians. As I left Regensburg at 2:30 pm, I planned a shorter day. Amongst other advice (which neglected the really big hill), they accurately recommended this campground.
I stood at a corner lacking a sign. At this point cyclists usually arrive from the other direction; in this case none were forthcoming. A cyclist pulled up next to me, with the same problem, and a map of EV6. I have a GPS of where I am, but no map of EV6; between the two of us we figured our path. Less than a kilometer later we did the same thing, and then both came to a significant climb, which included a steep gravel incline, a very steep cycle path section, and a decision to stay on the highway. Reaching the top Steve and I celebrated our success, and then he called it a day and stopped and a nearby pensione.
About the sixth person to arrive at the campground, 20 cyclists arrived within 30 minutes, and they continue to filter in. With only a few tables, I asked a couple if I could have some room, and spent a pleasant dinner discussing their tour, a week long trip starting at the Donau headwaters. They provided their map of Ingolstat, and a number of recommendations from their experience. Now I relax in the bathhouse, with Internet and power, sharing space with the other cyclists all catching up with the world beyond.
Hopefully this shorter day also offsets my touring days, where I arrive in the big city in the middle of the day, visit during the heat of the day, and then head forth.