Update 4: Trans-Europe 2015 – 6 Weeks Away

06 Feb Update 4: Trans-Europe 2015 – 6 Weeks Away

Illustration purpose. Not exact route

It is Friday and you know what that means? My weekly update of my Trans-Europe bike tour trip update. With only a month and half left, it is crunch-time now. I have been pouring over Google Maps to plan my day-to-day itinerary starting at Amboise, France and ended at Markelfingen, Germany. Using the “Cycling the EuroVelo 6 Guide Book” I am plotting out my route and keeping our 50 miles per day requirements going. Here’s how it’s looking so far.

Amboise, France to Markelfingen, Germany

• April 2, 2015 – Amboise, France to Blois, France
• April 3, 2015 – Blois, France to Orleans, France
• April 4, 2015 – Orleans, France to Gien, France
• April 5, 2015 – Gien, France to Saint Satur, France
• April 6, 2015 – REST DAY to check out Sancerre, France
• April 7, 2015 – Saint Satur, France to Nevers, France
• April 8, 2015 – Nevers, France to Diou, France
• April 9, 2015 – Diou, France to Palinges, France
• April 10, 2015 – Palinges, France to either Chalon-Sur-Saone, France or Beaune, France (Need to discuss w/Harry)
• April 11, 2015 – From either Chalon-Sur-Saone, France or Beaunne, France to Dole, France
• April 12, 2015 – From Dole, France to Besancon, France
• April 13, 2015 – REST DAY
• April 14, 2015 – Besancon, France to L’Isle-sur-le-Doubs, France
• April 15, 2015 – L’Isle-sur-le-Doubs, France to Mulhouse, France
• April 16, 2015 – Mulhouse, France to Mohlin, Switzerland
• April 17, 2015 – Mohlin, Switzerland to Flaach, Switzerland
• April 18, 2915 – Flaach, Switzerland to Markelfingen, Germany

We will be camping most of these days as I’ve routed from campsite to campsite with the exception of Amboise, Blois, and Orleans as the camping season does not start until early April or even later. That’s over 600 miles of biking in the books. I will talk to Harry next week to get some further clarification (if we want to ride to Chalon-Sur-Saone or Beaune on April 10, 2015). Once finalized, I’ll make the GPX files available for download so you can use it for your own travels.

How Am I Planning?

In my previous weeks I was attempting to use tools like Ride With GPS and Open Runner to plot out my day-to-day but all that got me was frustration as each tools had its downfalls. I opted to use just good ol Google Maps as it is. I enabled bicycling directions and just plotted out the destinations noting certain town that is mentioned in the Guide books. I matched the route as best as I could based on my own interpretation. I take the map I created in Google Maps and throw the link into GPS Visualizer to create the GPX file. I follow these very helpful instructions provided here. I also copy and paste each of the map links on a Google document in case we need to pull the route up on the road.

For future planning missions, I’ll use Ride With GPS to help see overall route and obtain elevation information. Open Runner would have been useful since they have map overlays that provides camping and accommodation information. This was made irrelevant when Harry found those Guidebooks.

Watch the video to see how I do it.

Shopping List Update

• Inflatable pillow Purchased 2/1/15
• 1 person tent or bivvy sack Reconsidering this need because of cost.
• 2 dehydrated meals for emergency
• Dr. Brommers soap Purchased 2/1/15

If you have any suggestions please let me know!

Here are the previous week’s update for your reference.

• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3