Gerontious

It is, I’m now at the to of Passo giau 2242 metres 13 miles from Cortina. now must be off.... Photos:

well you would, wouldn’t you!!

Salami and cheese baguette with blood orange juice and a view. It ain’t half hot mrs.

Off to Bolzano now having passed signs for the Stelvio, without even a hint of regret. Will be following the Great Dolomite Road to Cortina!!

He can be so unkind... and after all I’ve done for him. Gratitude!!! Yesterday started warm, became hot and as soon as I hit the mountains down came the rain. Managed to make it to that bus shelter before the drizzle became torrential. Which it duly did. Very localised as once I got going again a mile or so on and dry. Lazy morning as I’ve not a huge distance to cover. But obviously Italy. Sunshine and very warm. Glad I brought the vented jacket!! One bit of epic off-roading due to roadworks and since then it’s been a joy What a difference:

Much better now. Been dry since I went over the Arlberg pass. 34 miles from Italy now. Little hamlet called Strengen. Edit. Stopped for a kebab (without need to mix with people)

It’s been very warm today and I’ve made good progress. Currently taking shelter from a bit of rain as well as having a drink and a 10 minute break. I’m now on the edge of a village called Schoppernau Austria, here on a whim more than anything. Having just passed through Egg. I’m not allowed to stop in Austria, as in stop overnight so I’m chasing the sun again heading for a place called Nauders, where once upon a time I was called a Hooligan by a load of pissed up Austrian football fans. I’m intending to cross into Italy and find a campsite lots of very low cloud which kinda spoils the view. But hey ho. I’m 75 road miles from the border into Italy. Not much of a view..... Rains stopped, suns about to reappear and I’m off again.

6am and I’m up with the lark. Weather forecast has changed, and as luck would have it, warm and sunny over this coming weekend. but I’m not going to stay here. Heading east to start with, I want to avoid Lake Constance. The road that hug’s the northern shore is a bit of a headache, very busy and stop start, so a little to the north then south towards Garmisch in the Allgau. Close to the border with Austria. See how far I get today. Having a day off from cake. (Possibly) So, a lazy start as I want to have a shower, coffee. See if they sell breakfasts or the makings. And give the tent a bit of time to dry off the dew before packing up and going. Looking forward now to a first glimpse of the Alps rising above the Horizon later today!

Whose paranoid? Not me. Keys are next to me as I type, I would rattle them but that doesn’t transcribe well. I’m in the tent all ready for a very early night. It’s been a long day, only 250 miles, but that last bit was very intense. Also eating cake is in itself an exhausting process. Rain is still forecast from midday 40% chance so see how it looks in the morning and if it’s still the same I’m going to leg it. This place is so big and mountainous, it creates its own weather. I have this urge now to see proper mountains. Pointy ones.

I had one very strange experience, you know how after rain you can see mist rising in columns from the Forest, almost like a fire is burning. Well one of those drifted across the road and for a few seconds it was thick fog. Anyway the road here was a lot quieter than I was expecting. Not many bikes either. Teatime I guess. I’m now at the bar just about to try a Furstenberg. Weiss Bier €3.70, i might even have 2. It’s all been very pleasant, bits of rain, hardly worth mentioning, much cooler here than it was during the ride over which suits me. So, I’m right down in the south of the Black Forest. A few days later than originally planned. But it was great staying at the Schloss. It always is. See how it looks in the morning. If it’s still due to rain then I won’t hang about. Get further south and east into Bavaria.

Everything is open, place isn’t full, but is fairly busy. Lots of campervans

I made it past without incident or drama, rode the B500 all the way, but used the fast road to link the two parts and passed another konditorei and couldn’t resist. Just a big standard Sahn Tortefrom hell with a very passable coffee. Now at Camping Bankenhof near Titisee. Quite a posh campsite this one. At the moment there’s a 40% chance of rain tomorrow afternoon so will see if that changes and make a decision in the morning about staying or carrying on. Decent WiFi here so, some photos

A name to strike terror. Mummelsee. Unfortunately internet’s not all that good up here and photos won’t upload. Anyway, not hanging about as it’s a tad chilly up here. 1019m I can see rain, but it’s south of me. The tunnel was closed so obviously I got lost. Wasn’t following the sat nav just signs, missed a turning and had to turn back. But back on course. 3:20 now and I’m 73 miles from Titisee. Should be there about 6. (Ish) View from up here is just as stunning as I remember but there’s a lot of low cloud to the south to spoil the view of the Rhein valley. Now to get past Mummelsee in one piece!!

I did point that out. Apparently they are only geared to boil eggs by the dozen. Just one caused mayhem in the kitchen. I’ve pulled over again for an espresso at some random place. I’m just 500m from the french border apparently. Anyway the bill for3 nights. One dinner. One lunch. Plus the bar bill came to €139. That for a double room on the first floor, at the far end. I think you had the one above last time, onwards and upwards. Next stop that viewpoint we were at all those years ago. Using the tunnel to get under and past Baden Baden.

Just pulled over for a 5 minute break. Currently in a little town that is heavy on the medieval called Dahn. 38 miles from the start of the B500 suns out and it’s Hot!!

Breakfast. German style. None of your namby pamby sugar puffs here!! Last morning. And off to the Black Forest once I’ve demolished this lot.

I would estimate it was around 50% sahne 45% raspberries 5% crispy sponge type concoction, she did ask if I wanted yet more Sahne poured over. But I demurred. Being on a diet, like.

Back at the Hotel as I need to eat and am too tight to eat out. Saray grill is closed today so will pop to the supermarket at the other end of the village In a bit. Just made myself a coffee using the camping stove. This is the life. Tomorrow after breakfast saying goodby till next time to the Schloss and heading south to join the B500 at its start on the bridge over the Rhine then following it south as far as I can manage. Hopefully to Titisee. And see what the weather is like. Maybe stay a day or two then continue east for the German Alpine road. ODO is at 780 miles from my front door. Been alright today aside from A sharp summer downpour, I watched it from a Conditorei. Raspberry/Choco Torte mit Kaffee. Lovely this morning

If all goes to plan I could be in pizzaland. No, not that one. The other one.

That’s true, however there are still moving parts that are on the outside and unless you can guarantee with absolute certainty that the chain will never rust on any of its non-sealed moving surfaces then you really do need to use some kind of oil. It’s mostly incorrect language: lubricate the chain. It’s actually more about protecting the metal from corrosion, which will lead inexorably to stiff links and a shortened lifespan.

My bike used a 525. Though as with anything BMW it’s always best to play the waiting game until it’s properly tried and tested. They do have this idea that any spiffing new product gets pushed out and the actual testing is done by the poor fools who believe everything they say.

Stopped for a coffee, warm with the occasional spots of rain, like being two cars back from someone spraying their windscreen. Following the Mosel and went under the new B50 bridge, which is bloody impressive for what is a fairly normal, though busy dual carriageway. Climbed the north bank to try and get a decent photo. And another from a very little used bridge. I should be hungry but breakfast was even hugerer than normal!!

Completely alone at the hotel this morning which is a bizarre experience!! It rained or drizzled overnight but is set to be dry today though very overcast. 12c now 16c later, so not bad. Going to dawdle over breakfast until the local excuse for a rush hour is finished. No boiled egg!! Instead I got an omelette, which was very tasty. As well as all the usual, including yet more wild boar smoked ham. Apparently the hunting was good this year and with the hotel closed for two months there was little else to do than kill local wildlife and smoke it in his own smokehouse, which he is very proud of. Apparently. Eating what is effectively raw pork does take some getting used to. So, anyway... restaurant is shut today so no reason to be here. Or hurry back. I’ll have a wander down to the Mosel valley a little later and follow it east. Just following my nose and see where I end up. Road is already dry. Edit... heading south and pulled over for a drink and the sun is out. The sky is blue and I’m surrounded by hills that spoil the view. Next stop the Moselweinstrasse.

The castle was a little more impressive than I was expecting. As you can see, the weather is awful

Having a lazy day today after 2 days of mostly motorway... and then the very VERY twisty ride across Luxembourg. The road south from the hotel is a stunner so after breakfast I followed it south then turned off and went to bollendorf, crossed briefly into Luxembourg then back by a different route to the hotel for lunch. Wild boar goulash. Later, after the meal has gone down I’m going to have a look at a castle in the next valley, it’s up a dead end road off the B50 that we pass frequently but haven’t bothered with. Shedloads of bikers out today warm and dry just a tad cloudy. Tomorrow back into the swing of things. Hotel restaurant is closed after breakfast so I’ll be out all day. I’ll think about where tonight.