Amaury
September 17th, 2005, 11:15 PM
While on business last week in Germany, I had the opportunity to ride into the Alps. My original intent was to link up with the other MSMCers whose base camp was in a villa in central Italy. After a quick check of time (3 days) and distances (550 miles+), it was not doable in the available time from Munich (since I had to return the bike there). Reluctantly :rolleyes: , I settled for a ride through the Alps. A group of three of us, two who were local colleagues led the ride from Munich,Germany into Austria and Italy and back. From Munich, the Alps are a convenient 2 hours away (and not via the Autobahn!). Friday was a terrific day where we stopped for lunch in Bad Tolz, with the weather sliding from showers to sun.Dinner :cheers (oh yeah, a few large local beers were had as well!) was in a little country inn (private room/bath with breakfast included for 35 euros).
http://gallisa.smugmug.com/photos/35868211-S-2.jpg
On Saturday, we hit the Alps. The weather threatened, eventually opening up to a steady downpour that began at 2,500 metres in Timmlesjoch on the border to Italy and kept up all day.
http://gallisa.smugmug.com/photos/35868010-S.jpg
But with roads like these, I was smiling all day long inside my helmet :D .
http://gallisa.smugmug.com/photos/35868050-S.jpg
After spending Saturday night in Austria at Jenbach (70 km from Innsbruck), we headed back early into Munich via the lovely Achensee area on an incredibly sunny morning (above pix). Starting back early thinking I had a ways to go, but with the last 100 KM covered on the Autobahn at just under 200kph, the end of my trip came way too soon. I caught the last nonstop that Sunday to SFO on Lufthansa at 4:50pm and arrived at 6:40pm on Sunday - the wonders of time travel I guess. That gave me enough time to dinner with my family and share the enthusiasm of the Alps.
It was an incredible visit, and I encourage others to consider going to the Alps particularly from Munich. Germany was hyperefficient, friendly to Americans (yep!) and lots of English is spoken. Am told that May is the month to do it. So if others are interested, I may just go back and do it again - but stay longer for sure!
Amaury
http://gallisa.smugmug.com/photos/35868211-S-2.jpg
On Saturday, we hit the Alps. The weather threatened, eventually opening up to a steady downpour that began at 2,500 metres in Timmlesjoch on the border to Italy and kept up all day.
http://gallisa.smugmug.com/photos/35868010-S.jpg
But with roads like these, I was smiling all day long inside my helmet :D .
http://gallisa.smugmug.com/photos/35868050-S.jpg
After spending Saturday night in Austria at Jenbach (70 km from Innsbruck), we headed back early into Munich via the lovely Achensee area on an incredibly sunny morning (above pix). Starting back early thinking I had a ways to go, but with the last 100 KM covered on the Autobahn at just under 200kph, the end of my trip came way too soon. I caught the last nonstop that Sunday to SFO on Lufthansa at 4:50pm and arrived at 6:40pm on Sunday - the wonders of time travel I guess. That gave me enough time to dinner with my family and share the enthusiasm of the Alps.
It was an incredible visit, and I encourage others to consider going to the Alps particularly from Munich. Germany was hyperefficient, friendly to Americans (yep!) and lots of English is spoken. Am told that May is the month to do it. So if others are interested, I may just go back and do it again - but stay longer for sure!
Amaury