Day 18: Sliding the iXS Course and travel to Todtnau

18 Jul 2011

Day 18: Out of Switzerland and in to Germany. Monday morning we packed up and checked out of the campsite before heading to the Wiriehorn iXS race course used during the weekend. The lifts and course were closed to the public today but we were permitted to ride the course cos we’re special! The problem of getting to the top was solved using the WBPs van, so we had a few runs down without the effort of having to pedal back up. The track was very beaten up – the rain from Sunday had really taken it’s toll and conditions were very very slippy. But as most of the riding we have done so far has been in the dry this just offered a new element and was great fun. We got absolutely covered in crap. And not just mud – it seems there is an unusual amount of cow poo all over Wiriehorn, and now us too. Of course at the bottom of the trail the pressure wash was not working as the park was technically shut for the day to recover from the race, so we had a fun 10 minutes washing the bikes in the river. Didn’t seem to do any good as the bikes were still covered in crap when we finally gave up and threw them in the van. Still it was a great day on a great course which has some very demanding sections; one of the best shots from the day...

We then hit the road and headed for the 6th bike park and 3rd country of the URT – Todtnau in Germany. We managed to dig the walkie talkies out of the van for this leg of the journey, which made driving in convoy much easier but of course resulted in more goofing around than making sure we were going in the right direction! And there was half an hour of laughing for the simple folk in the team as we drove past Wankdorf just outside Bern. We arrived in the Black Forest in the early evening, and checked in at the Gasthaus Feldberg on the main street in town. A really great place, bike-friendly (it even says this on the door!) and dog-friendly, really down to earth it feels like a typical country pub back in Yorkshire. Schweiner-schnitzel and apfel strudels all round, with plenty of beers and the local tipple honey-liqueur. And to finish off, the very friendly Andreas and Suzanne here at Feldberg introduced us to Schwarz Wald Teufel. Made with “herbs and alcohol” (what else do you need..?) this translates as Black Forest Devil…! We are now most definitely up for some rough rooty riding on the Todtnau trails tomorrow!! Over and out.

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