|
Through the Inn
As promised, today was the closing day for our castle hotel, so there was only a simple breakfast and then the place was
closing down for the day. I don't know if this is common among these family-run hotels in Europe, but it is definitely popular in ma&pop stores and
restaurants in Japan. These sole proprietors have to work every day unless they close down for a set day every week or so. Anyway, we were
happy to head on early in the morning. We collected our bikes from the little shed-garage out front, and rolled on up the road. Most of the morning
was rather uneventful as we continued up the smooth trail of the Inn valley. Our morning break was taken at the large town of Worgl where we also
did a bit of shopping. First mom went in search of a restroom and some food, and then I made a larger search for a good sports store to get a
swimsuit, a new shirt, and a big floor pump! No more having to deal with little frame pumps that may or may not work. I got me a big beefy model
with a pressure gauge and all. It was a little big, but made light by its plastic shaft. I filled up the tires, strapped on my purchase and pedaled
happily along the trail.
Long Gravel Stretches
Not long up the path, I had the chance to use the new pump two times today.
We were cruising along on the gradual downhill leading us out of the mountains of the Tirol area, when mom got two successive flats on her rear
tire. I fixed the first one for her, but let her deal with the second while I took some photos and checked out the route ahead. There were not many
large towns along the route for a bit. We were nearing the border area to cross back into Germany. The scenery was not quite as breate-taking
as the last couple days surrounded by the snow-capped mountains. We didn't meet so many people either. Toward evening, there were some
people out on the trail for their daily exercise, but for the most part we peddled on, uninterupted.
Our long day of trucking along in the
sun was rewarded by our
arrival in the quaint Bavarian town of Wasserburg. All traffic from the south enters into the old part of the city across a bridge and through a gate.
There we found a number of hotels and restaurant ready to cater to tired tourists. We found a hotel that would take weary bikers, actually, the front
desk had a sign indicating its participation in the Bike and Bed program. They showed us a garage across the street where we could park our
bikes (impressive, considering the crowded downtown area) and we walked up the road to sup at an outdoor cafe. Bike touring at its best, minus
the couple flat tires.
|