Thursday was a ride out to Hallein. Again, up the Salzach valley and a look a rather comprehensive Celtic museum. Suz felt unwell so I accompanied her back but Richard continued on riding a sizable loop through the passes before turning up later in the afternoon.
Friday was yet another ride up the Salzach valley, this time to Konigsee across the border in Bavaria. Once again, spectacular weather. Below is photo of the crowds at the 'entry' to the lake. It has very steep sides and the only way to travel is boat or hard core hiking.
The boats have been running since 1907 and have been electric all this time. There are 17 of them and they all have 2 1/2 tonnes of lead acid battery in their hulls. The water quality of the lake is exceptional and drinkable.
The boats potter along at 12km/hr and take you to St Bartholomew, the only other place on the lake that is flat and where the edge does not run shear into the water. Naturally, at such a hard to get to place, there is a monastry. It was hot and the water clear.
Suz and boat at St Bartholomew.
Fortunately, most of the return trip is downhill.
On Saturday morning, we escort Richard to the main train station to catch the train back to Munich. We manage a return trip to the Naturbad Aschauerweiher in Bischofswiesen later in the day. It is a 50km return with a nasty 150m switchback at the village near the pool but as beautiful as ever.
(see ../../2014my/ for last year's photos - smartphone images did not come out so well.)
Sunday is a ride out to the bigget bike shop I have ever been to. It is along and just across the Saalach river and into Germany, the Zweirad Stadler where we buy a suspended seat post for my backside. With a big trip to Budapest to go, it was a well over due investment in comfort and I rode out of the shop on it. Dinner was at the Zollhausl (littte toll house) in Freillassing, Germany and almost on the way back. We had been there before with Willie and Roswita. It was originaly near a major bridge crossing which was destroyed in WWII and rebuilt further downstream.
On Monday, we catch the train back to Vienna having clocked around 500km on the bikes since arriving.
