Day 1: To Friedberg, a rainy start
Thursday July 15, 2021
Rain was forecast and rain it is. Same as last week. We had originally planned to leave on Thursday a week earlier but decided against it due to the heavy rains predicted. We cancelled all or hotel bookings and booked anew. As it turned out, it didn't rain last Thursday but it is raining today. But we are riding today, rain or shine.
Before we leave I ask Janos to pump my tires a wee bit more, they are feeling very soft. Somehow there is a problem with the pump and valve, the tire loses all its air and then Janos manages to get it pumped up enough for me to cycle to the local bike shop. The bike mechanic takes care of my tires quickly, and at the same time informs me that my front suspension shocks don't look right, I should get it taken care of as soon as possible. That's a problem since as soon as possible will be at the end of our tour.
For a while it had stopped raining, but by the time we are finally ready to set out, it has started again.
Rain was forecast and rain it is. Same as last week. We had originally planned to leave on Thursday a week earlier but decided against it due to the heavy rains predicted. We cancelled all or hotel bookings and booked anew. As it turned out, it didn't rain last Thursday but it is raining today. But we are riding today, rain or shine.
Before we leave I ask Janos to pump my tires a wee bit more, they are feeling very soft. Somehow there is a problem with the pump and valve, the tire loses all its air and then Janos manages to get it pumped up enough for me to cycle to the local bike shop. The bike mechanic takes care of my tires quickly, and at the same time informs me that my front suspension shocks don't look right, I should get it taken care of as soon as possible. That's a problem since as soon as possible will be at the end of our tour.
For a while it had stopped raining, but by the time we are finally ready to set out, it has started again.
Janos and me, ready to roll and waiting for the rain to stop, which it doesn't
We are well enough equipped for rain. The shoes are more or less water proof, the rain jacket with hood works well and we both have "rain legs", not rain pants which are so uncomfortable and a big nuisance to put on and take off.
Rain legs are a great invention, they keep you much drier than you'd think to look at them.
Our first stop will be in Fürstenfeldbruck. In the rain we don't see much of the pretty ride, but we have pedaled these 17 km often.
Wet - but it's not pouring cats and dogs and it's not windy - count your blessings.
Queen Anne's lace and cornflowers add a friendly note
When we reach Fürstenfeldbruck, I'm more interested in getting out of the rain for a meal than visiting Fürstenfeldbruck's lovely baroque church. When we come out it has stopped raining!
Taking cover with view to the facade of the Fürstenfeld Abbey Church of The Ascension of the Virgin Mary (St. Mariä Himmelfahrt)
That was the good news. The bad news is that Janos discovers that he has left his wallet at home with ID and credit cards. I have credit cards but traveling without any identification isn't a good idea. We do some brainstorming. Cycling back is the least appealing solution. Take the city train from Fürstenfeldbruck to Munich and then another city train out to Gauting? That would take forever. We come up with and reject various scenarios and decide the best thing will be to ride to Friedberg, our destination for the day, and from there Janos can take a train back to Munich and Gauting, retrieve his wallet and then return to Friedberg by train.
We continue in the Bavarian countryside under a grey sky and with dampened spirits.
Wayside votive chapel from 1888
We have a nice route through farming country, mainly fields of grain and corn, many good bike paths separate from the road, and in the end even a tail wind to push us along. Friedberg, located to the east of Augsburg, has a historical old town and is located on a hill which we should have known since "berg" is in its name.
We are in Hotel zum Brunnen and the reception is friendly and helpful. The young man at the desk seems to enjoy the challenge of finding the best train connections to get Janos to Gauting and back as quickly as possible. So after a quick change of clothes, Janos is off down the hill to the train station and with two changes of trains he is in Gauting. When he gets back to Friedberg it's 9 pm. I meet him at the train station and we have a meal at the nearby Greek restaurant.
In the meantime the sky clears and the sun comes out. I stroll around town and take a few pictures.
We are in Hotel zum Brunnen and the reception is friendly and helpful. The young man at the desk seems to enjoy the challenge of finding the best train connections to get Janos to Gauting and back as quickly as possible. So after a quick change of clothes, Janos is off down the hill to the train station and with two changes of trains he is in Gauting. When he gets back to Friedberg it's 9 pm. I meet him at the train station and we have a meal at the nearby Greek restaurant.
In the meantime the sky clears and the sun comes out. I stroll around town and take a few pictures.
This might be Friedberg's town hall, I'm not sure though.
Traditional wall painting depicting a medieval cow slaughter
Main square with fountain and St. Mary's column
Look at all those cars, they kind of ruin the scene, don't you think?