Todays ride was based on a few I found in my Strava past rides where I have mentioned the colour of the leaves in the title. It did not disappoint. We met up at Gelterkinden bahnhof on a fairly chilly autumn day. Much thought had gone into the age old "what have I got to wear" conundrum. I settled on layers with room in my saddle bag to put them when I didnt need them anymore. At least I had the bib longs on, not thick winter ones but warmer than shorts/knee warmers. We needed the extra layers at the start as we peddled downhill towards Sissach and on towards Diegten. There were not many people on the path which was unusual and we soon reached the main road. It was at this point that I thought it would be good to avoid the traffic (that wasnt there) by turning right at Tenniken, along the farm roads reaching Bennwil for the first proper climb. This is a well known local kicker with the gradient being well into the teens at the start, a slight relaxing mid way, then off up again near the top. All this is fine! (cough) but today we had the added impulse of a tractor gasping behind us. I didnt realise it was a tractor at first, I thought it was a patient car with a loud engine....
Rested we set off again towards Waldenburg. There was a bus stop at the end of the village, before the start of the climb, so I took a layer off. We noticed a sign for a tiny train - further up the road - we didnt stop for a ride. As we climbed up the hill we could look down and see the tiny train going round with children on board and saw a model of the Walderburgerbahn itself. I assume its this link - there cant be 2 cant there?
It wasnt long before we reached Langenbruck and the first proper stop. Toilets of course! These are massive, always open and always well looked after. Suitably refreshed, we climbed up to the Oberer Hauensteinpass sign and left towards Breitehöchi.
Photo stop, chat to old an on an ebike who stated that he could tell I wasnt very local due to my Gelterkingen dialect. I think his hearing was a bit hindered by his helmet. We shared ride plans and he was keen to accompany us to Passwang - so we continued together. My companion chatting away in front with him and me plodding along behind admiring the trees. Its a great road slightly uphill again, stop at the top to admire the view before a brilliant descent through the trees.
He led the way to Rumliswil, him casual, me pushing it.....and we forced a stop before Passwang started. I needed to eat. Flapjacks and other snacks eaten on we went to Passwang. I didnt stop at the restaurant and continued to the top and through the tunnel. He turned back at the restaurant, after that we were on our own again.
So far the trees had been wonderful but soon we would have the fantastic view over towards Nunningerberg. The photos dont do it justice.
After a short stop at the traffic lights we started the last big climb and were treated to the usual practically empty roads with good tarmac and we were in the middle of the trees.
The top arrived and we stopped for a short breather before yet another great descent in a tree covered road with wonderful colours. https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/09/11/autumnleaves/
Now on our last leg and needing to make sure we would be over 100km by the time we finished, we added an extra loop from Nunningen, Seewen, Hochwald, Gempen, Nuglar Buren before a fantastic swoosh all the way down to Liestal and ended at the back of the new station. After a short discussion about what exactly the red sign said - hint - Velostation - we crossed the bridge thing and split up to go home. My companion went all the way back to Basel and me to Gelterkinden, with a detour at the end to Tecknau to push the number over 100km for the day.
What a great day out, the weather was perfect, as were the trees. Thanks for my companion for the company.
Distance : 100km and a tiny bit
Climbing: 1903m
Avg speed: 18 km/h
I hope you are inspired by our ride - please send me your feedback on the poll on the Blogpost below and I will try to adjust these rides to what people want.
Hope to see you on a bike soon!
