Got my energy back

After a good night's sleep and a good breakfast I felt a whole lot better. 

The forecast was for rain and possible thunderstorms so I donned my rain gear before setting out. Although it did rain it was more of an occasional drizzle. It would have made the news on St George, but it was no big deal. 

However, by the time I got to my hostel the sky ahead was full of some very dark clouds. 

I didn't leave Curth until 10am. I usually set my alarm for 7:30, but last night I gave myself the luxury of sleeping in. Woke up at 8. 

i did a much better job of staying on route today. Route R2 turns into Eurovelo 15 once you enter the European Union. These signs are at major turns for the route, although they can be far apart which will generate a little worry in my head.  You also need to be careful that you are going the right way. 

I only got slightly lost once today. Ok, maybe twice,  

This one is for you Lyndon

Bright red poppies were a joy to see, and they were in quite few places. These looked a little beat down from last night's thunderstorm. 

And here I am, dressed for the weather. It's nice to be prepared. 

This area is referred to as Heidiland because it's the part of Switzerland that was portrayed in the famous story. Some people, especially from Japan, travel here almost like it is a pilgrimage 

Part of the ride was on a very smooth, and slightly down hill, path on top of a flood dike. That's the Rhine on the right. 

On the left side were these bunkers built against a possible German invasion. The entrance (sealed off) is in the back. Machine gun ports are on both sides. I saw quite a few of these. Reminders of bad times 80 years ago. 

The dike eventually led me to where I purposely went off route. I crossed a bridge over the Rhine and entered Liechtenstein. Andy and Frank Schleck, two of my favorite cyclist from the Lance Armstrong days were from this tiny country. Andy took 2nd place in the Tour de France at least twice. 

Why dint we have these in the US?

At the Information office in Vaduz you can get a Liechtenstein stamp in your passport. It's all voluntary and cool to have, but otherwise none of the other EU countries bother with it at the boarders. 

I've been seeing Keller all around and assumed it was honoring someone, and perhaps it is sometimes, but Keller means cellar in German. 

The Royal Castle of Liechtenstein 

And finally, here is my room in Schaan, Liechtenstein. 

Here's the view out my window. The clouds are down low!

Tomorrow I will be back in Switzerland, but only for a short while as I cross Austria (no kangaroos) and enter Germany where I have a room reserved in Lindau on the coast of the Bodensee. About 60 kilometers from here. Rain is in the forecast again but I can't do anything about that. 

See ya!