Riverboat on the Danube, front row: Debbie McPeek, Noreen Pinkerton, Dede Good, Susan Davis, Flora Conley, Mary Oakland, Nancy TerHaar, Marianne Roberts, Judy Vincent, Beth Kramer and Mike Kramer; back, Dot Kluzek, Ellen Stergulz, Lisa Flynn, Ann Silverstein and Joy Bole
Winning the lottery was the goal of several PebbleCreek ladies that started every Friday morning with a bike ride. The first stop on our 12 to 15 mile weekly ride was always to purchase a group lottery ticket. The last stop was lunch where we would have fun discussions on how to spend our anticipated winnings. Top on the list was a group bike tour of Europe. One day we decided to take luck into our own hands and plan a bike tour, whether we won the lottery or not.
Several planning meetings later, sixteen PebbleCreekers landed in the Czech Republic! June was a perfect month to start a 12 day tour from Prague to Vienna with VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations. The trip was a perfect balance with six days of city exploration on foot and six days cycling through the countryside.
Three days in the fairytale city of Prague was a great start. Prague is a treasure trove of architectural gems, some dating back more than seven centuries. We started each day in the magnificent Old Town Square, the bustling heartbeat of old Prague. We strolled through worn cobblestone streets, exploring the old city. Exploring the historic Jewish Quarter was a profound experience. We took in a classical performance in the 1885 Rudolfinium Concert Hall situated on the banks of the Vltava River. We travelled across the famous Charles Bridge on our way to visiting the beautiful Prague Castle.
We started the cycling portion of our trip accompanied by our VBT guides Jiri Vesely and Filip Stys. Every day we had options; there were short routes (totaling 80 miles) and long routes (totaling 127 miles). The shuttle van was always available to those who needed a break. We had beautiful blue skies our entire trip and the temperatures were perfect for cycling.
Our first stop was the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features a beautifully restored castle. We cycled on rural roads visiting local families for lunch. We were able to see farming life as it is today alongside the ghostly buildings of the communist cooperatives. We then travelled by train to the border of the Czech Republic and Germany. The Iron Curtain once stretched along this border; crossing it on foot without challenge was a sobering experience. Jumping on our trusty bicycles once again, we traveled through the serene Bavarian countryside. We arrived in Passau, on the banks of the beautiful Danube River, feeling the accomplishment of a challenging ride. The next day cycle was along both sides of the River Inn. Our morning ride on was in Germany and our afternoon ride in Austria! Leaving Passau by riverboat on the Danube was a wonderful way to start another day of adventure. Once we came ashore in Austria, we enjoyed a long bicycle ride on the banks of the Danube. Our destination, a manor house built in the 1500s, was originally a ship captain’s home. The last day of cycling took us through the Wachau Valley, famous for its fruit orchards and wineries. We toured another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Melk Abbey. Our cycling adventure came to a close with a wonderful group dinner hosted by our wonderful guides.
Our bicycles turned in, our cycling clothes packed away, we were off to enjoy three days of walking and exploring Vienna. The capital city of Austria is a fascinating mix of imperial grandeur and gilded palaces surrounded by a modern European city. The city is filled with great art collections, wonderful music and classic coffee houses. The Hop On–Hop Off bus circuit enabled everyone to tailor a tour of the city to their own taste. Touring the Vienna Opera House encouraged several of us to attend our first opera. A ferris wheel ride took several of us high above the city where we enjoyed a spectacular view. The Lipizzaner Stallion and Vienna Boys’ Choir Tribute to Vienna at the historic Spanish Riding School was a fitting end to an incredible trip.
Coordinating and completing a complex trip with sixteen people could be a daunting challenge to many. Our fearless leader, Marianne Roberts, took care of all the details for us, communicating clearly throughout the planning process. VBT provided us with charming guides and an exciting itinerary. We experienced European hospitality in beautiful accommodations. We gathered effortlessly into small groups every day, depending on what each of us wanted to experience. The camaraderie and friendships that developed along the way amongst our large group are priceless. Discussions about doing the VBT Bike and Barge trip through Belgium have already begun!
The PebbleCreek Czech Chicks Bicycle Group had an adventure of a lifetime!