Southern Bavaria & Austria part 7 - Wednesday bimble

Here's the Stelvio didn't put my foot down once thru hairpin after hairpin I lost count at 100. Monday rode alone to the Gerlos pass and on to stay at Gasthoff Freiberg for two nights. Met German biker looked like the mad king from chitty bang bang i wish he wore helmet with spike on top. Schnell schnell. Tue I conquered the Grossglockner (mark knoppler) see pic in prev post. I was caught in Thunderstorm Like no other in the time it took to get rain gear on there was a river of water flowing over my boots. Then lightning bolt in front of me led me to turn in to farmhouse and shelter in a wood store. The farmer waved from the house as if to say it was ok.Today I head to Hallstatt east of Salzburg and follow the Salzach river. Hope to camp a couple of nights and take in the sights more later.

Southern Bavaria & Austria part 6 - Hallstatt

Today I have taken a steady ride from Gasthoff Friedburg east past Zell Am See and then north toward Salzburg winding along avoiding motorways following the Salzach river as it gets wider. This was some spectacle the forest just kept getting more dense and it was a relief to follow the valley in the shade. I'm riding with vents open no neck scarf and fully factor 15'd up. Scorching. So then I round this bend and there it is - Hallstatt to camp up for a couple of nights. What a place 

It's a world unesco heritage site and preserves the true Austrian way of life. There are ice caves to visit and a salt mine maybe tomorrow. So I've pitched up been to supermarket and boght some trad dark rye bread to go with me noodles and kippers!

Southern Bavaria & Austria part 5 - Well at last!

Finally managed to find free wifi at mcds in Zell am see. A very eventful week. The rally was amazing after our 475 mile ride down last Friday from Boullion across the black forest b500 

We made it to the camp site at 9pm and pitched up in the dark. Spent looking around the rally drinking beer and eating more sausage. Sunday I rode the famous Stelvio and later took off on my own down to Merano in Italy and did the Timmellsjoch pass back up to Garmisch only just made it they close the pass at 8pm and I went thru at 7.15 had the whole pass to my self - best sunday ride ever .

Southern Bavaria & Austria part 4 - Route Planning

Hope to do these !!

Garmisch to Berchtesgaden via the Deutsche Alpenstrasse.

Option 1:  Berchtesgaden via Salzburg to Lake Mondsee, Bad Ischl, Halstatt and 

on to Zell Am See

Option 1:  Berchtesgaden via Salzburg to Lake Mondsee, Bad Ischl, Halstatt and 

on to Malta, Carinthia

Route for after the Rally

Southern Bavaria & Austria part 3 - Route Planning to the Rally

Route Planning going well, now have all of the way-points transferred to my TomTom Rider format. The basic route down to Garmisch will be:

• 3rd July - Dover B&B
• 4th July - Ferry Depart with GS Club UK to Calais, brief stop in or around Cambrai, and make camp in Bouillon in the Ardennes.
• 5th July - Ride the famous B500 - Black Forest run via Baden-Baden and on to the BMW Motorrad Days Rally, in Garmisch

680 Miles over 2 days.

4th July AM - From Calais - Lunch in the square in Cambrai 

4th July PM - Through the Ardennes - setup camp in Bouillon 

5th July - Bouillon down to Garmisch rally site.

Southern Bavaria & Austria part 2 - Route Planning - Stelvio and Timmelsjoch Passes

The Following are ride outs from the Rally at Garmisch.

Garmisch to Stelvio 1.

Garmisch to Stelvio 2.

Return via Timmelsjoch

Southern Bavaria & Austria part 1 - Almost ready?

Sold the Harley last year (can't afford the cleaning polish), and traded for a BMW R1200 GS, I will be riding with the GS Club UK in early July 2013 to the big Beemer rally in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, via the Black Forest and taking a ride over the Stelvio Pass. With an extended stay, I hope to have a go at the famous Grossclockner and Gerlos passes in Austria. On my return I'll try and take a look at the Vosges Mountain range, France.

Only another pack/unpack/pack/unpack ..........on and on !