Project Petal ~ Outer Circle Part 1 ~ Augsburg to Donauwörth

 13-Nov-2025

After completing the Middle Circle and connecting all the S-Bahn final stops, my next goal is to connect the tips of all the petals. 

Okay, so "circle" might be stretching the definition a little bit, but hey, you get the idea. Also note that I already got the southern segment covered thanks to a combination of hiking tours through the mountains where taking the bike through would be no fun AT ALL (well, unless you're my dad, than it's LOADS of fun. He cycled across most of the passes in the Alps by now, so no you know where my cycling-mania comes from).

And as it so happens, I have the perfect pretext to get started with this right now: The Furvaria in Marxheim, which is right between Donauwörth and Ingolstadt. The weather is very nice for November today too, so here we go! Since I've already cycled to Augsburg in the Petal of the Wolf (see Book V ~ Chapter 15 ~ Project Petal Part 9 ~ Augsburg and Around), I can simply fast travel there by train. A ticket for my bike costs only 7€, and since I got a Deutschlandticket anyway, I can pretty much travel for free.

From Augsburg, I follow this route to Donauworth. This is an extremely easy trip, since I am cycling down the valley of the Lech, so the entire trip is not only downhill, but also barely has any climbs.

Tour map on bikerouter

First I need to get out of Augsburg

Which includes me crossing the Wertach, which flows into the Lech at Augsburg.

It's a very idyllic tour. Clear skies, with the sun at my back for most of the time, and for the largest part I get to cycle across quiet rural roads through fields. Some of them even still have rapeseed growing on them. Most are bare though, as are most of the trees, since we're already WAY into autumn here.

Halfway through, I have lunch in the form of a Streichkäsesemmel ("cream cheese bread roll")
 

And then I'm on my way again. As I approach the valley of the Donau, I can see the hills in the distance gradually draw closer.

And then here we are! Donauwörth, and with it the Donau. I cross it near its confluence with the Wörnitz. Guess which one of the two rivers is the Donau. Left or right?

Solution: It's the left one. After that, it doesn't take long for me to reach my Airbnb in the suburb of  Zirgesheim, where I make myself comfortable in my little room.

And then I get out again in order to get some tea and breakfast for tomorrow, as well as some dinner for right now. My way leads me to a Chinese restaurant by the way of Lotus, where I try out the buffet at the suggestion of the waitress, and I am not disappointed. I open up with a super-tasty soup which I think is chicken with a sweet-and-sour note to it.

Followed by some salad and sushi, because why not?

And as main course, I have... uhh... all of this:

Full and happy, I return to my Airbnb, where Theria is already waiting for me.

And now I'm writing this from my laptop-friendly workspace before going to bed.

Tomorrow, I plan to make the connection to the tip of the Boar Petal, and then it's onward to the Furvaria at Marxheim. I'll keep you posted. Until then, stay tuned, and be of great cheer!