An Introduction
Who are we? For those readers who don't know me from previous journals, just a few words about myself and my husband. I'll keep it short. I grew up in the USA but settled in Germany after I finished college, so I am kind of American and German, American by birth and German from the fact that I have spent about 75% of my life here and speak German most of my waking hours. Janos was born in Hungary and fled to Germany in 1964. We live in Munich, are both octogenarians and ride e-bikes.
Where are we going? As most everyone else, we haven't dared stray far from home this summer. Covid-19 has made us cautious and even though we would have been allowed to travel within Germany most of the summer, we were more than reluctant. We have made almost daily bicycle outings in our immediate surroundings which fortunately offer a variety of enjoyable loops. But that's not the same as being on the road.
Finally in September statistics and general information convinced us it would be safe enough to spend a few nights in hotels and the predicted weather was perfect. We planned a four-day loop starting from the front door that would take us through some fine Bavarian countryside.
Finally in September statistics and general information convinced us it would be safe enough to spend a few nights in hotels and the predicted weather was perfect. We planned a four-day loop starting from the front door that would take us through some fine Bavarian countryside.
Day 1: Gauting to Bad Tölz
September 8, 2020
I'm nervous, we haven't toured in over a year or ridden with panniers. Fine and good that we have been cycling almost daily, but we seldom leave our comfort zone. But now once we are underway, the panniers are no problem. Why all that worry all the time? And the morning fog lifts before long, it is going to be a glorious day.
Most of today's route is a repeat of the beginning of our ride to Innsbruck last year, we are on familiar territory. The parts we liked then we like now, and the less interesting sections are just as boring this time around. We just forgot when planning the route that the road and bicycle path between Wolfratshausen and Königsdorf was not so attractive. Next time we'll plan it differently.
A word about our planning: We use Komoot, an app similar to ridewithgps, for planning and recording our rides. Janos has finally convinced me that navigating using a cell phone instead of my Garmin has many advantages, so that's what I have mounted on my handlebars. He was right, the display is easier to read and transfering planned routes from the computer and sharing them is so much simpler. I guess some people don't like all this technology while cycling, but I have no objections. I hate getting lost, it's such a waste of time, and I love planning.
For me cycling and photography belong together. This would be a problem if Janos weren't as enthusiastic about taking pictures as I am. We both like to travel slowly and stop frequently for photo op's. Often in the past I had no idea where I took many shots so I was excited to discover a method for geo-tagging my pictures since my camera doesn't have a gps function. Just a bit of technical information for anyone interested: Using the exif-data from your camera, Lightroom can geo-tag photos that you upload. Probably there are other methods that I have never heard of. The camera I used on this trip is a Sony Nex-6 with an 18-55 mm lens, a light and practical set up for traveling. I also took a small tripod (Gorillapod) with me that I used exactly once.
Now for today's pictures
I'm nervous, we haven't toured in over a year or ridden with panniers. Fine and good that we have been cycling almost daily, but we seldom leave our comfort zone. But now once we are underway, the panniers are no problem. Why all that worry all the time? And the morning fog lifts before long, it is going to be a glorious day.
Most of today's route is a repeat of the beginning of our ride to Innsbruck last year, we are on familiar territory. The parts we liked then we like now, and the less interesting sections are just as boring this time around. We just forgot when planning the route that the road and bicycle path between Wolfratshausen and Königsdorf was not so attractive. Next time we'll plan it differently.
A word about our planning: We use Komoot, an app similar to ridewithgps, for planning and recording our rides. Janos has finally convinced me that navigating using a cell phone instead of my Garmin has many advantages, so that's what I have mounted on my handlebars. He was right, the display is easier to read and transfering planned routes from the computer and sharing them is so much simpler. I guess some people don't like all this technology while cycling, but I have no objections. I hate getting lost, it's such a waste of time, and I love planning.
For me cycling and photography belong together. This would be a problem if Janos weren't as enthusiastic about taking pictures as I am. We both like to travel slowly and stop frequently for photo op's. Often in the past I had no idea where I took many shots so I was excited to discover a method for geo-tagging my pictures since my camera doesn't have a gps function. Just a bit of technical information for anyone interested: Using the exif-data from your camera, Lightroom can geo-tag photos that you upload. Probably there are other methods that I have never heard of. The camera I used on this trip is a Sony Nex-6 with an 18-55 mm lens, a light and practical set up for traveling. I also took a small tripod (Gorillapod) with me that I used exactly once.
Now for today's pictures
The fog is lifting as we cycle the path next to the railroad tracks, not far from home and a path often taken.
I think our friends here are waiting to give us a send off, or at least to have their picture taken as I often do.
We pass the sign for the Manthaler Beer Garden, and turn around. It's almost noon and we hate to pass up the opportunity to have a bite here. This is the "stammtisch", a table reserved for a group of regular guests, decorated with Bavarian paraphernalia. We are not entitled to sit there.
Free range chickens like this place, too. They pecked around under the tables and between the guests feet.
Life is good!
The fire department in Farchach with a wall fresco of the patron saint of firefighters, St. Florian, putting out a fire.
A farmhouse with ornamental painting over the windows - nice to see the tradition being kept alive.
A close up of the window with its lace curtains inside
Birds are welcome here.
A small chapel in Attenhausen
Now in Königsdorf - the cemeteries often have beautifully worked wrought iron crosses on the graves.
St. Laurentius in Königsdorf - "The church is essentially a late Gothic building made of tuff stone. The upper floor of the tower was built by Caspar Feichtmayr around 1685. In 1785 the church was redesigned in baroque style." Wiki
Richly carved entrance to the church
A glimpse of the church's baroque interior
In Königsdorf
Laundry drying, traditional window box brimming over with geranias, a cross and a tv antenna.
A final picture for the day taken in front of our hotel in Bad Tölz
Today's ride isn't long and we are in our hotel in the early afternoon. We have booked all our hotels in advance, something we never did in earlier years. This year it was absolutely essential since so many Germans are no longer vacationing abroad but are spending their holidays within their own borders. What we didn't realize was that it has become necessary to reserve tables in restaurants now, something we have never done before. Social distancing means that the seating capacity, even when eating outdoors, is much reduced.
Before going to bed I re-read my journal from our trip last year. We also stayed in Bad Tölz, but in a different hotel. Much of what I wrote I could have written again today. We even ate in the same restaurant and without knowing it I ordered the same meal as last time. Sort of like "Groundhog Day".
Before going to bed I re-read my journal from our trip last year. We also stayed in Bad Tölz, but in a different hotel. Much of what I wrote I could have written again today. We even ate in the same restaurant and without knowing it I ordered the same meal as last time. Sort of like "Groundhog Day".