DONAU\DANUBE
Today I discovered something I had been looking for--fall... After writing for this blog in the morning, I got on the train I had been waiting for, one going to a town near the head of the Neckar River. My plan is to cycle that river route north, then head through France towards Calais and a ferry to England. As the train journey went on,however, the countryside became more and more picturesque and I realized that we were paralleling the Danube River, going up towards its source in the south-east of Germany. Mile after mile unfolded until I could not stand sitting in the train any longer, so I jumped off at the next stop.
DONAURADWEG
At that point I did not know where I was, but having heard of the Donauradweg (Donau = Danube, rad = cycle, weg = way or path) I knew I was on it. Signs identifying the route were everywhere and very clear, so I took it--and fall unfolded. The scattered clouds parted from time to time, and the trees are starting to turn colors. I have seen the Danube\Donau at Budapest and other cities, where it is a mighty river, but here it is a good size stream. And it is wending its way through pastures, canyons and incredible scenery. And the path for cycles is great... So I was introduced to fall in wonder and glory--so much that I could not keep the great song How Great Thou Art from filling my mind and I could not go fast or far(there is a time in cycling to make miles go by as quickly as possible, because there are places to go and people to meet and things to see...but there is another time for simply feeling the air and watching the world, and that was today. In that sense it is like life, with its times and seasons--and we can only pray that we would recognize which time is which...)

A SNACK STOP
As I hunted for a hotel I bumped into a couple a little older than myself. They were also cycling and were outfitted just like I am. As we chatted for a few minutes, the wife was quick to say, and proudly I am certain, that with their planned journey tomorrow, back to the town I started at today, they will have cycled the entire Danube from its origin to Budapest. It took several trips and several years, but they will have done it...
I have ended the day with relatively few miles on my computer, but with great visions in my mind. And tomorrow I will head towards the Neckar and see what it holds...And in the years ahead--???
In His Adventures, Will