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Biking In Liechtenstein - July 8, 2010

Biking In Liechtenstein - July 8, 2010

Another sunny day was forecast today for Appenzell so we had one other must do before we leave here. It is only about 10 km as the crow flies in fact if we could have gone over the 2nd mountain we were on yesterday, we would be real close but the ridge is high and snow capped so that it was up and over the pass and down the other side then back along the other side. We found a shady spot to park the car about 5 km north of Vaduz the capital of Liechtenstein and rode our bikes up the Rhine River for 12 km. It is a paved path up on the dyke that prevents the Rhine from overflowing in spring run offs - just wide enough for a car and in fact they do use the dyke in places probably to escape traffic downtown. Along the dyke on the city side , farmers were busy making hay. We stopped to watch a round baler 'calve' then the bale moves back and it is wound with plastic before it is dropped. After lunch in a shaded spot by the river we headed back toward Vaduz. It was slower going since we were heading into the wind. We found a bike path that led into Zentrum and noticed some major changes in the city - like most other towns we have re-visited (guess that is progress). They have closed off the whole downtown making it a pedestrian only zone with brick pavers in various colors for different parts of the street. Vaduz is home of the ruling Prince Alios and his family who still live in the centuries old castle above the city. He was home today - when the Liechtenstein flag is flying he is home. Only a couple original shops we recognized - they have really spruced it up most shops are modern as in any North American city. While we were sitting in the center of the city resting, security began to be stationed at various points and soon an old English sports car with a driver and a navigator came by and stopped at a check point, exchanged paper and off they sped. While we were there 4 or 5 more pulled up then sped off. On our way back to the Rhine, a security man stopped traffic to let others speed through the intersection without stopping. By the time we made it back to the car we had added 25 km to the bike's odometer today.
On the way home to Appenzell we took a side trip to the little town of Alstatten where Rick Steves recommends a trip by train up to the summit of a pass where there is a little Church built in 1405 stands guard at the top. There is a very commanding view of the Rhine valley below showing where we had been and also the tower of the 2nd climb yesterday. There was also a monument with the dates 1405 - 1905 to commemorate the 500th anniversary year of an Appenzeller victory over the Hapsburgs of Austria. A pine tree (maybe even a redwood) was beside the church - had to be at least 6 feet across at the bottom - amazing that it withstood the winds on that high ridge. With the GPS re-set for Appenzell she took us the back way over more narrow one-lane roads. Very warm at 32 degrees C - sounds like it is worldwide.
We rested a bit after arriving home then headed back into town to the Migros grocery store - they have a great buffet and dining room - soup and salad was the menu for tonight. After supper we walked to Zentrun of Appenzell - we had heard there is a 'concert in the park' type thing every Thursday night in the Rathaus (we think it is the music school). Three young people in their upper teens were playing traditional Swiss music at the Rathaus. It was great -one guy on the string keyboards, a gal on the hammered dulcimer and another guy on the accordian. Great toe-tappin' sounds for 1 1/2 hours.