Ready, set, bike. Vacation! The Lake Constance bike story WELCOME, GRÜEZI AND HELLO

We are especially excited about today’s planned route: We want to complete the tour-around of the Obersee and drive through all three countries of the tri-border area. We are already looking forward to enjoying nature in the green Rhine Delta at breakfast. But first, no dawdling, as the first stage leads us by train to Friedrichshafen. We chose a pre-booked mobile ticket. At the Uhldingen-Mühlhofen tourist information, we had advice and learned that the group day ticket is best suited for our plan, allowing unlimited trips in up to three contiguous zones in the transport network. Since it is valid on weekdays from 8:30 am, we take the train at 8:52 am. Although bike transport on local transport is free only from 9 am, we do not have to change trains on our selected connection.

At the Friedrichshafen city station, we waste no time and hop on the saddle to get onto the Lake Constance cycle path. We quickly leave the city behind and enjoy the increasingly green surroundings. Shortly after, we stop at Eriskircher Ried at an information board about the nature reserve extending along the lake shore. A sign pointing to the Eriskirch nature center sparks our curiosity, and we decide on a small detour. Unfortunately, the center housed in the old station building, which offers general information and regularly themed special exhibitions, is closed today. We continue through the idyllic nature reserve and cross the Rhine tributary Schussen. In Langenargen we pause right by the lake to look at the impressive Montfort Castle, located at the end of the castle park on a small peninsula. By chance, we stop at a lake access point with two e-bike charging stations, requiring just one euro deposit to lock your battery for charging there. Montfort Castle, today the landmark of Langenargen, was built from 1861 on the site of the ruined Burg Argen fortress as a royal summer residence. Besides classical elements and medieval battlements, the Moorish details of the orientalist 19th-century architecture make the castle special. The building is usually not open to the public, but the Langenargen castle concerts in the upper-floor concert hall offer the chance to experience it inside. Back on our bikes, we cross the Argen, a Rhine tributary, and let ourselves be tempted by sweet strawberries from Lake Constance fruit at a small stall during a snack break. For the first time since arriving, we hear the typical sound of a Zeppelin and then see it emerging from a cloud! It will accompany our ride along the lake for a while. In Kressbronn—the easternmost community on the northern shore in the Bodenseekreis district—we briefly lose the signage of the cycle path. Luckily, orientation is straightforward and we quickly find our way towards Lindau. In bright sunshine, we suddenly stand before an impressive giant sequoia, planted nearly 140 years ago, as a sign informs us.

Our path leads us through the residential area of Kressbronn and neighboring communities. Following a poplar avenue, we descend to Wasserburg. The ride is accompanied by birdsong from various species evidently enjoying the dense gardens. From the lakeshore in Lotzbeckpark, we get a beautiful view of the island town Lindau and have to wait at a railway crossing until trains entering and leaving the island have passed. Though a quick visit to the old town would be tempting, the highlight today is completing the Lake Constance circuit through the three countries of the tri-border area, so we continue riding – – – crossing the Austrian border towards Bregenz. From the boat dock "Am Kaiserstrand" in Lochau, we enjoy a wonderful view of Bregenz and the lake stage at Lake Constance. The Bregenz Bay offers many great photo spots, including the pretty nostalgic bath and the harbor, where we see the "Sonnenkönigin". We look closely at the largest passenger ship on Lake Constance, an extravagant event and charter ship departing from Bregenz, before treating ourselves to coffee and apple strudel at an ice cream café on the promenade. Refreshed, we continue our ride into the Rhine Delta nature reserve towards Lustenau and Ried, crossing first the tributaries Bregenzer Ach and Schwarzach before cycling on the bicycle bridge over the New Rhine. The Rhine Delta nature reserve extends over about 2,000 hectares across the communities Höchst, Fußach, Gaißau, and Hard. Two-thirds of the area is water, and one-third is land. Our route winds**along the protective dams through the reserve – repeatedly finding crossings over many watercourses, including a beautiful wooden bridge from which you can overlook a Rhine side arm. Accompanied by the song of the locally native reed warbler, we continue our ride to Fußach**. On the Rhine bridge, around which countless house martins are flying, we notice an electronic bike counter that has already registered over 1,400 cyclists today: Vorarlberg is cycling! The scent of freshly mown grass in our noses, we follow the bike path through fields and meadows past farms and horse stables.

Our tour through Austria is nearing its end. At the Gaißau Rheineck customs office, we cross the border into Switzerland to Appenzellerland and the Old Rhine over a wooden bridge dedicated exclusively to bicycle traffic. Having started the morning with jackets, we'll soon feel warm. At the regional airport St. Gallen-Altenrhein, we take a drinking break and change into summer clothes. Surprised, we see golden onion domes in the distance reminiscent of Hundertwasser. Indeed, in the town of Staad, the Altenrhein market hall is the only building that the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser planned and completed in Switzerland. We don't miss a short detour there, circling around the interesting building, which impresses with its striking floor plan, bright colors, and the characteristic curved shapes typical of the artist. The route from Staad to Rorschach challenges cyclists with many street crossings, requiring attention. But just behind the Würth House in Rorschach, behind the modern glass facade housing not only congress and event rooms but also a museum section with changing art exhibitions and a sculpture garden free to visit, the path turns into a spaciously laid out lake cycle path – separated from the sidewalk – running parallel to the lake. We pause for a small picnic in the lake park. Waves lap gently against the shore. Among numerous bars and ice cream cafés, we spot by chance a charging station for e-bikes with two sockets behind the Seecafé Arion – convenient.

Beyond Rorschach, the cycle path to Horn and Steinach runs for a while again partly on the road until we come back to the lake. The community of Arbon welcomes us with a long chestnut avenue, behind which opens a wonderfully wide view of the lake. Sailboats glide over the sunlit sparkling water. Coming from the harbor street, we ride towards the former castle grounds, where the medieval castle with a fortified tower also houses the Historical Museum Arbon. Here visitors can see the largest local and regional historical exhibition in Thurgau. We find the church impressive, next to which stands a small ruin. Riding on between other cyclists and inline skaters, we notice a string of campsites along this part of the Swiss shore. Along the railway line leads the bike and skater path between apple orchards and tracks towards the port town Romanshorn. Unfortunately, we don't have time to linger here this time because as we approach the dock, we see the ferry ready to depart for Friedrichshafen. We reach the ship just in time. What remains is the view from the rear sun deck on Romanshorn as we bid farewell to the Swiss lakeside for today. Under white fluffy clouds, the Friedrichshafen skyline is visible in the distance with the observation tower where the ferry will dock. Since we planned only one lake crossing this time, we buy a single ticket for the ferry with bike each and learn that payment on the ferry is possible with both Euro and Swiss Francs. After arrival in Friedrichshafen, we head straight to the station. We pedal strongly once more to catch the next possible train to Uhldingen-Mühlhofen. We already have our day ticket, and at this time bike transport is free. Back in our guesthouse, we look forward to resting our legs. Because we're hungry, we treat ourselves to a pizza delivery from Capri Pizza Service in Daisendorf today but decide to take it to the lake at the natural swimming area in the district Unteruhldingen to have dinner with a view of the water.