Plan for Day 3: Solothurn to Brugg: 49.4 miles

Day 3: Solothurn to Brugg (map included at end)

My original intention had been to go all the way to the Rhine on day 3. It turned out, though, that this day is a bit tougher than I thought. That, plus the fact that there aren't any good hotels at the Aare-Rhine confluence meant that it made more sense to stop a bit earlier.

The day starts on dirt paths along the river and pretty much continues in that vein for the rest of the day. There are a bunch of small towns (Wangen an der Aare, Olten, and the final town of Brugg) and one semi-major town (Aarau) along the way. Most of the towns have historic old sections, which could make for some good sightseeing. Brugg is the ancestral home of the Hapsburgs and contains their first castle, from around 1000AD, long before they moved into Austria and founded the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Overall, I expect this day to feel like a true vacation. No major things to check off, just a bike along the river, stopping in cool villages whenever the mood strikes. I don't plan on making reservations at a hotel here before hand, though I've found two near the train station that would be ok.

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*) Leave hotel and turn left. Continue down to the shore of the river
and continue along the shore. After the large bridge, there might be
a one-way section that will force you inland one block for a short
distance. As the river turns to the left, there will start to be a
path along the river. Drop down to the path as soon as possible.

*) Follow the path for a couple miles until a large tributary comes in
from the right. Turn up the tributary.

*) Follow the tributary to the first bridge and work your a way
across. On the far side, find a way back down to the shore. This
might require a loop to the right.

*) Follow the right shore of the tributary back down to the AAre and
continue downstream on the right bank. Continue on the right bank for
several miles, passing through the town of Wangen on der Aare. At the
first bridge after Wangen an der Aare, it will likely be necessary to
drop back inland to the road.

*) Continue along roads and paths along the right bank until the river
makes a sharp turn to the north. At this point, cross over a bridge
to the left bank.

*) Follow the road forward right from the bridge. As it merges into a
road (also forward right), continue. At a U-turn, continue straight
instead.

*) Continue straight on road and path until you get back to the river.
Continue along the left bank. After the bridge across to Aarwangen,
continue on the road as it goes slightly inland. Take the first
right.

*) Stay straight on the road as it heads back to the left bank.

*) Keep right on several roads though a small town. Cross over the
next bridge into the town of Murgenthal.

*) Continue across the bridge to the main street. Turn left.

*) Continue on the main street (Highway 1) into the town of Dietwart.
Continue through town. As the road moves to the right away from the
train tracks, take a forward left onto another main road.

*) Continue through 4 roundabouts and over the main freeway. Take the
first forward left after the last roundabout.

*) Continue on this road into downtown Aarberg (possible lunch stop).
Turn left towards the river and cross over the one bridge. After the
bridge, turn right onto the path along the left bank.

*) Stay on the path as you make your way into Olten. Cross over the
train tracks and then a small tributary, before crossing over the
river in the old bridge. Turn left on the far side and continue down
the right bank.

*) Continue on the road on the right bank as you leave town. Turn off
onto a path along the right bank when the road crosses over the river.

*) Cross over a dam/lock onto an island in the split river. Continue
along the right bank of the canal.

*) Continue along the canal, past a wooden bridge, until the end of
the island. Cross over a bridge back to the left bank. Immediately
turn right and continue down the left bank.

*) Stay right on path/road until the next dam/lock. Cross over the
canal onto the island and continue down the right bank of the canal.

*) Continue to the end of the island and cross back over to the left
bank. Turn right on the far side.

*) Take the first right back towards a bridge. Turn left to stay on
the left bank.

*) Stay on the left bank for the next several miles. On the approach
into Brugg, you'll be forced onto a main road, before crossing over
into town. Follow signs to the train station.

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