How do you spell relief? We spell it: FLIXBUS. After an exhaustive online search we discovered a European bus company that allows passengers to travel with bicycles. Despite horrific online reviews about luggage being misplaced, bikes being stolen, rude bus drivers and broken toilets, we decided to roll the dice and book passage from Innsbruck to Paris via Munich. Frankly, we were desperate and the bus appeared to be our one and only viable option. Thrilled to have solved our logistical issues, we arrived at the bus station, which was actually a signpost outside a gas station, ready to complete our journey.
On a positive note, we must say Kudos to Flixbus. Our experience was excellent. Drivers were courteous, bikes were handled with care, bathrooms worked (although I was too chicken to use one) and we arrived 16 hours later in Paris exactly as scheduled.
Only one hurdle remained; cycling back out of Paris to our airport hotel where our adventure began five weeks ago. Like all large metropolitan areas, Paris is facing challenges. Slow travel by bicycle forces you to see and experience it all, whether you are prepared to or not. We witnessed the beauty and magic of the City of Lights and we also saw her warts. Heartbreaking images of migrant camps, where many families are living out of tents, in deplorable conditions. I suppose this is the benefit of travel, opening your eyes and heart to the situation of others. Rob and I have both been touched by our cycle touring experience, and feel like we have changed. We hope to return home, better for our time on the road, committed to doing our small part to make a difference.
Thank you for sharing our ride with us. We appreciate all of the messages and words of encouragement.
Giggle of the day
Excited to be on the final leg home, we deposited ourselves, with big bike boxes in hand at the airport shuttle bus stop just as the sun was rising. After our circuitous, and often challenging journey back to Paris, there was not even a remote chance that we would over sleep and miss our bus to Charles de Gaulle airport. Nervously, we watched as other shuttle bus passengers arrived at the waiting area. We knew from past experience that the bus, which in actuality was a beat up old passenger van, only held seven and our bike boxes would require the full back row of seats. Departure time arrived and our cranky driver gestured at us to load the bikes. Obediently we did as we were told. After several minutes he came around to inspect our work. It was at that moment he lost his mind. “Pas possible, pas possible!”, he exclaimed. We didn’t need Google translate to understand him. In my best, indignant voice I countered, “c’est possible!, and with that Rob and I hopped in the van basically daring him to evict us. Truthfully, I think he was too lazy to move the bike boxes out of the cargo hold himself, and so with an angry glare, he loaded the remaining passengers, called for another van to take the stragglers and we were off. Polite Canadians can only be pushed so far!
Route Update
Bikes checked. Bags checked. Homeward bound. Until next time.
