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Austrian Alps september 2020


Gerontious
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As you know (probably) I like going away at this time, kids are (usually) back at school and it’s a normal working week. For example the campsite I’m at now is full of pensioners, I’m the only one there in a tent. Well, speaking of pensioners, I’ve been seeing large numbers of Harley Davidsons today and they all have one thing in common. The riders are miserable as sin. I wondered why? And then it occurred to me, open face helmets and goggles. The pain of being constantly hit in the face by bugs, sometimes rather large bugs must be, ahem, interesting!! Problem solved!! Question answered.


I do like it here, but it’s not really a great destination. There’s a very different attitude towards catering for tourists. Views. There aren’t many of them. Anywhere else a rest area with picnic tables etc would have a few trees felled so you can enjoy the great view. But not here. High up on the side of one of the mountains you get glimpses, if you’re lucky. Just trees and more trees. Never mind, the riding is great as a stopover. But I’m now looking forward to making tracks westwards. As I type this, this is in front of me:

 

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Guest Richzx6r

As you know (probably) I like going away at this time, kids are (usually) back at school and it’s a normal working week. For example the campsite I’m at now is full of pensioners, I’m the only one there in a tent. Well, speaking of pensioners, I’ve been seeing large numbers of Harley Davidsons today and they all have one thing in common. The riders are miserable as sin. I wondered why? And then it occurred to me, open face helmets and goggles. The pain of being constantly hit in the face by bugs, sometimes rather large bugs must be, ahem, interesting!! Problem solved!! Question answered.


I do like it here, but it’s not really a great destination. There’s a very different attitude towards catering for tourists. Views. There aren’t many of them. Anywhere else a rest area with picnic tables etc would have a few trees felled so you can enjoy the great view. But not here. High up on the side of one of the mountains you get glimpses, if you’re lucky. Just trees and more trees. Never mind, the riding is great as a stopover. But I’m now looking forward to making tracks westwards. As I type this, this is in front of me:


318AB551-AC7A-4E9A-B660-9378B68EACE2.jpeg

 

Looks to have been a hell of a trip this year

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Bet it's been nice to be on your own for a change

 

Yes and no. Yes because I’ve had nobody to worry about, my biggest worry has always been that the guys get their moneys worth. And they do I reckon. Especially when we go to the Eifel. They know what to expect by now. When we have the off year and go camping that’s alway more of a risk in many ways. Pot luck that it will be up to scratch. This time though it’s been “all about me” - completely selfish and that’s alright. But I’m already looking forward to next year, there will be faces I’ve not seen for 2 years or more. It’s a great laugh with the gang. Even mr smallfrowne and the extra excitement his entirely unreliable bike choices always bring. End of today I’ve done 2225 miles from my front doo. Wandered back into the Czech Republic (again) and generally had a great day... endless blue skies.

 

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Just wondering which way to go tomorrow? It’s a big country!!

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I’m heading south again, there is a CWGC cemetery at a place called Durnbach I want to visit, it’s the most southerly British Cemetery in Germany and handily isn’t too far from the German Alpine Road, which I will then follow, perhaps returning to the Black Forest. Harz is too far north, over 300 miles from here and I can’t be bothered with that. So first, go and visit the almost 3000 men buried at Durnbach and especially the 93 Unknown’s, then follow the route west.

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What happened to the Russian mother from mother Russia? Is she expecting you back by Sunday?

 

Grandmother, she was 82 Unless she changed her plans. She will be back home in Eraclea. and I wasn’t invited to visit. Or, if I was then I didn’t understand what she was sayin. She made great food though. Total yum.

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So warm!!


I’m at Durnbach and having walked around I’m sitting in the shade an emotional wreck. Both the unknowns get me, I think of the family’s that waited for news that never came. The vast majority here are under 30yo and many of them died within weeks of the wars end. But the saddest part are the personal messages that were allowed on the stones. But anyway this place and its setting is wonderful, facing the mountains. This is the view from where I am right now. With the mountains off to my right.

 

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From a shaded seat.

 

And one particular grave. A DFC. But what his relatives asked for just sums up the whole thing.

 

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Back in the mountains 946m up a hill. 2410 road miles from home. And I need a beer. At a place with the charming name of Wackersberg.


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... I can almost smell the dew on the grass

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... I can almost smell the dew on the grass

 

Get up early and everything outside the tent is soaked, so tomorrow I won’t be packing up until the suns risen over yonder lump of limestone and the tents dried out a bit. Lovely and cool now. Time for a shower and go track down that beer. Been a good day.

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I just looked that OMC Jones up, he was piloting a Lancaster and was attacked by a night fighter. The entire crew died and are all at Durnbach. Flew out of Scrampton, which I’ve ridden past, in Lincolnshire. It was his 30th mission.


I just happened upon his grave. But these are the ones I think are worth a moment of my time. Forgotten and unknown. It does really get me that even all these years later there will be relatives of these 6 who know they died but nothing more and here they are.

 

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I seem to be popping in and out of Austria today Like some sort of demented frequent flier. Another lovely day so far. Now heading towards Garmisch and then Plansee, a lake I always wanted to see. Just stopped for strawberries, which were just what I needed in this heat. 28c860C9AF2-B631-46EA-A768-006828EE7A15.thumb.jpeg.a6ee940f27f6861e8abcaf30add4211b.jpeg51EDE31B-77A6-4608-A40E-C07FF3749D36.thumb.jpeg.0f42590ed3b6513e53b9036c3950676f.jpegD9C3027D-1695-4F0F-9CE4-469D11B89553.thumb.jpeg.555fe1b5478b79bb420d7ff529d9455d.jpegE50529C0-BC6D-4C49-94B9-6EE17728D87B.thumb.jpeg.9671c1e259421f3a21fbd08b6b2314b7.jpeg

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My mission was a success!! I’m in a country I have never visited before. Where the number plates on cars are Black. Which is very odd and all start with LF. It’s also the first country I’ve entered by a main road that didn’t have the usual country sign. With driving rules and so on. Greetings from Liechtenstein!! And Camping Mittagsspitze, which is a few miles south of Vaduz. It has an outrageously priced restaurant!!! I’m not hungry (suddenly) I’ve eaten well today anyway. And my beer has arrived and it’s Erdinger!!! Oh joy! Oh pleasures untold. Probably costs £20 a bottle, but I’m past caring. This is the one Alpine country I’m allowed to stay in!! I was worried it would be dark by the time I arrived, but thanks to Austrian 82mph speed limits on the autobahn I illegally used (no vignette) I had plenty of time. Location of this place is stunning, but photos will have to wait until daylight. Now.... beer,

 

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One down and another on the way, I have to say the ride here was visually stunning. I added a photo looking down the Gerlos pass. They have built a road that effectively goes down a cliff. Truly amazing engineering. The road just curves round and round like some bizarre spiral staircase. Impossible to photograph and when I got to the bottom I just didn’t want to stop again. For a time I was riding in the clouds which was very odd too. Anyway, tomorrow I shal be riding very sedately (and extremely legally)across Switzerland to the Rhine crossing and the very southern end of the B500. Already done that road so I shall perhaps zig zag north. And if time allows head for the Eifel and maybe stay at the Schloss again. Though that might prove too much of a slog. We’ll see. But Schloss Schnitzel!!! Been a great day as my last day in the Alps. Been a great two weeks to be honest. Despite the rain when I first came to Austria. See what tomorrow brings.

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7 euros a 500ml bottle. No wonders this is such a rich country. But, while I was waiting to pay my bill, I happened to glance at a groups bill, 6 people and their meal plus everything cost €525!!! And with that, I shall wobble back to my tent.


I could murder a bag of fish and chips

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Ohhh look the one time I'm not there and he successfully makes it to Liechtenstein, pffff :roll:

 

That’s perhaps your good luck. I can see the reaction to €7 a bottle of Erdinger. You would fall to the floor foaming at the mouth, maybe do a bit of writhing for added dramatic effect. Shocking price, almost Scandinavian. Last nights menu. The cheapest ‘starter’ was €22.50. I was forced to use emergency food rations. Dried fruits and nuts and a couple of pieces of dark chocolate.


Another boringly predictable blue sky day, with just some low cloud wreathing the mountain tops. I’ve a route to the Rhine that avoids the one ‘big’ town, Winterthur. Just under 100 miles. At the moment I’m not seriously considering a return to the Schloss today, I may just wander through the Black Forest and stay there, at its north end tonight and think about tomorrow when it comes. ODO is 2650 miles and I’m 506m up a mountain side.

 

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Just been to pay for the night and this has been, by a long way, the most expensive campsite so far. Last night, on my way here, I was thinking perhaps a room if it was too late, I dread to think how much that would have cost. Almost £22 for one night!!! That’s nearly double the average!!

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This might upset any fanboys, but I have to say that Switzerland is by far the most tedious country to ride a motorbike in. And if I never come here again I will not be at all disappointed. Petrol is €1.45 a litre. I’m having a 15 minute break at some random bus stop, (and probably breaking a law by doing so) because bus stops seem to be the only place that offers seating. I’ve been through village after village, past parking spot after parking spot and no seating at all. Anywhere. Nobody overtakes. Everyone seems to drive at well under the speed limit and even then will slam on the brakes when the limit reduces at a village. I can’t wait to get back into Germany. Oddly enough where I’m parked has some anti-tank dragons teeth across the road, no paranoias here then.

 

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Well, that was horrible. If anyone ever suggests we go to Switzerland. My answer will be: “you can F. R.O.” Now back in Germany, currently at Waldshut and having something to eat. My first ever Burger King since this trip began. I’ll be joining the 500 in a bit and start north 3:45 now, so, see how far I get, before looking for somewhere to camp at about 7.hopefully with a (rather cheaper) Bar!!

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Guest Richzx6r

Well, that was horrible. If anyone ever suggests we go to Switzerland. My answer will be: “you can F. R.O.” Now back in Germany, currently at Waldshut and having something to eat. My first ever Burger King since this trip began. I’ll be joining the 500 in a bit and start north 3:45 now, so, see how far I get, before looking for somewhere to camp at about 7.hopefully with a (rather cheaper) Bar!!

 

So.....a full two weeks in Switzerland for the gang next year it is then :thumb:

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