Moving on: In the Drau Valley
Friday June 7, 2013
Today is a driving day. Packing up means getting everything in a place where it won't rattle or topple over, something like in a boat. The kitchen needs the most planning: plates, cups, bottles must all be firmly in place. Imagine the bottle of olive oil getting out of control when Janos hits the breaks. Primitive camping would require less effort in some respects (I wouldn't have a bottle of olive oil with me, though), but it is less comfortable. It's all a trade-off, comfort has its price.Again sun! Hadn't seen that much sun in a half a year in Munich. Our route first climbs in the Puster Valley. Although we are motorized and not on bikes, I still think in terms of elevation and climbing, I also observe the direction of the wind which isn't really relevant at the moment. We stop in Bruneck/Brunico and before we get into the center of town we dally at the farmer's market. I spot a cheese I have never seen before, it looks like grey and white marble, I must buy some. We also find some bread, rolls that look like roasted chestnuts and are also called chestnuts, that will round off our simple picnic fare.
Today is a driving day. Packing up means getting everything in a place where it won't rattle or topple over, something like in a boat. The kitchen needs the most planning: plates, cups, bottles must all be firmly in place. Imagine the bottle of olive oil getting out of control when Janos hits the breaks. Primitive camping would require less effort in some respects (I wouldn't have a bottle of olive oil with me, though), but it is less comfortable. It's all a trade-off, comfort has its price.Again sun! Hadn't seen that much sun in a half a year in Munich. Our route first climbs in the Puster Valley. Although we are motorized and not on bikes, I still think in terms of elevation and climbing, I also observe the direction of the wind which isn't really relevant at the moment. We stop in Bruneck/Brunico and before we get into the center of town we dally at the farmer's market. I spot a cheese I have never seen before, it looks like grey and white marble, I must buy some. We also find some bread, rolls that look like roasted chestnuts and are also called chestnuts, that will round off our simple picnic fare.
Marble (cheese) and a roasted chestnut (bread roll)
With a chunk of cheese in my backpack, Janos and I climb up to the castle on the hillside overlooking the valley, a strategically important location in times of old. Today the castle houses a museum founded by Reinhard Messmer which documents fascinating aspects of the history of mountain climbing in South Tyrol.
View from Bruneck's castle
After our cheese and bread picnic, we drive on to Toblach, the highest point of the valley and the source of the Drau. From here the road (and bike path) follows the Drau into Austria. We stop in Lienz and hope to take some day trips on our bikes from there.
Planning tomorrow's bike tour
View to the mighty Dolomites from our campsite