Finding a Balance

When you think about it, cycling per se is all about balance. Being, as is so often the case, behind HRH today, during a particularly peaceful stretch of the cycle path that required little or no concentration, I observed just how ridiculous the very concept of riding a bicycle is! I mean, seriously, how did someone conceive of the idea? To seat a person above wheels no wider than an inch and placed one behind the other, then to require said person to propel themselves along all the while maintaining their balance is weird enough, but for the idea to have caught on so comprehensively is nothing short of incredible. Needless to say, my balance is not as good as some. For example, I struggle to stand on one leg (yes, ok, I know this is not a prerequisite for being a wife, mum and office worker but I'm just illustrating a point).  A physio once told me that I needed to improve my core stability. Would that have helped with riding a bike or was that just for one-leg-standing activities? Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, I have a tendency to wobble a bit, especially on unstable underfoot terrain. When I'm hiking I have overcome this by availing myself of a walking pole, particularly useful in lumpy fields and going up or down where the surface is stony. Unfortunately a pole is not practical on a bike and unless someone has invented another nifty aide but hasn't shared their genius with the world, it's down to the rider simply to balance on those silly narrow tyres even when the surface is decidedly unstable. Fortunately a great deal of the path is beautiful, solid, smooth Tarmac. Sadly quite a few sections today were of the more dust-and-gravel nature. I have to confess to needing to navigate these at a crawl, fearful of skidding and finding myself under the bike rather than on it or worse the wrong side of the handlebars, and as a consequence this evening I'm nursing a knotted neck and sore shoulders from clinging on for grim death. But it's not all bad ... 

Before we set off from Blighty I was adamant that as well as being an adventure and a challenge I really wanted this to be a holiday. I know a big part of the week is about the scenery, the fresh air and discovering a part of Europe we don't know together, but it was really important to me that we strike a balance between the physical exertion and a fair smattering of sightseeing and relaxation. Today was a triumph in that respect. The route we undertook was not strictly part of the 'round Lake Constance' itinerary. We left Stein am Rhine heading west following the river as it travels on its way to the North Sea. 

(Leaving Stein am Rhine)

24 km later and we arrived at Neuhausen and the largest waterfall in Europe, Der Rheinfalls, made famous by a certain Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes' nemesis, throwing himself off the top into the waves below. We settled for a boat trip into the heart of the falls and the chance to climb to the top of a narrow rock that juts up right in the middle of the pounding waves. 

(On the boat in the middle of the falls basin. This selfie was meant to have the waterfall in the background but the swell had other ideas).

We also struck a good balance between rest, rebellion and the requirements of the schedule today. To begin with we didn't even get going until 11.30am, ate an overpriced but tasty lunch overlooking the falls but not till 4.00pm and decided we (I) was too tired to go out again after arriving back at our hotel at 7.00pm so picnicked in our room instead - shocking, eh? But despite being tiring it has been a great day. Hot and sunny, scenic and satisfyingly strenuous but most of all it felt like being on holiday. 

(Not a bad view to look at over lunch).

I must confess I nearly didn't write this blog. The wifi is sporadic in our hotel and feeble even when existent, and the beer and chocolate that were the picnic pudding/reward for completing our 48km nearly sent me into soporific slumber before I could get going but, on balance, I'm pleased I did. A day to remember :-)