The rivers Brigach and Breg merge in Donaueschingen to form the Danube. These two rivers are already substantial but for some reason a small spring at Donaueschingen is the official source of the Danube (Donau in German).

We found the spring easily enough but the start of the cycling path wasn’t signposted and we cast around for a few minutes until we found it. After that it was clearly signposted at every junction and very easy to follow right through to Vienna.

The path was easy, mostly paved and flat. We detoured up the steep hill to the town of Muhlheim to try to find lunch. There was nothing in the town, only two restaurants next to each other on the noisy and busy main road. We couldn’t agree which looked the least worst and so continued on.

We finally found a small café in a quiet square at Fridingen. Although there was a menu they apparently weren't expecting any takers and the landlady had to find the cook and the food.

As a result it took a long time to arrive but when it did it was seriously good, and plentiful. We had finished our first beer whilst waiting and so ordered another.

We were eating outside and locals walking past wished us a polite 'guten appetit'.

After Fridingen the path went into the narrow limestone gorge. It was too narrow for a road, just enough for the bike path, the train line, and the river. It was beautiful but no longer sealed and there were short but steep hills where it climbed higher up the gorge wall.

We had planned to reach Scheer but by Sigmaringen we had completed 100km and were exhausted. The combination of a heavy lunch and steep hills probably hadn't helped. We booked into a hotel in the car free main square next to the town hall.