BIKE AND BARGE
 

Has anyone done a bike and barge trip in any country in Europe? We were thinking about doing one in September and not that picky about what country...would love to hear any and all experiences!

We did a self-drive barge trip on the Burgundy canal. Covered about 75km. in one week, going through 50 locks. We had bicycles, but hardly used them. The barges are limited in speed and it took the full week to reach our drop-off destinations. Of course, we stopped to see the sights, to shop in various towns, etc. But the boat has to keep on moving, so someone must steer it while others do their bicycle jaunts. Keep that in mind, unless you are thinking of a hotel barge which would not require your participation in steering the boat.

I haven't done one but a friend did a bike and boat along the Mosel. The boat acts as hotel and you cycle along and meet up with it again in the evening. Of course if you don't feel like cycling one day you can stay on board, but the do prefer you to get off. She enjoyed it a lot, did it as a solo with other couples on board, but never felt the odd one out. Occasionally she cycled with some of them for a way but mostly did her own thing.

did a barge trip several years ago, beginning in Strasbourg and ending in Nancy...with a lot of visiting towns in the wine country. Bikes on board for almost anyone who wanted to use one. I thought it great fun to bike to the next stop, chatting with the locals, etc. I found there was plenty of time to do this between stops. This was the barge tour that used a massive lifting contraption to lift the barge to the next level, one time. other than that the locks were used.(See pics below)

The elevator lift starts at Page 43...you stay on the elevator.https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...AndParis2006II

More on the Barge trip for you. I;m not sure that company is still operating barges...but there must be several barge trips in that region and others around France.
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...ISelectedPhoto

We just got back from a bike & barge tour in Prague. Company is Tripsite. We loved it. Nice boat (MS Florentina); reserved an upper deck cabin. Biking was very manageable. We tried e-bikes...this is our 7th bike trip and thought we would give them a try. We may never go back!! :) We were the only Americans on board, which we liked. About 10 people from the UK. Rest were German or Swiss. Stayed in Prague after---recommend 3 days. We are already looking for another bike-barge for 2017.

I had a friend that did one in Holland years ago. She had a great time. Though she was in her 70's, she was an excellent cyclist that did 50 miles several times a week and was a hard too please person.