CAL2105 Alps and Lakes
This short tour leads us along fantastic LAKES, from the south of Germany up to the highest and most extensive mountain range system in Europe the ALPS!
The first riding day starts with a surprise for Ricks birthday, a motorcycle and a tool made out of chocolate, muffins with candles and a drawing just made for him. Isn't it a perfect start?! On this sunny day we start on bavarians backroads, with a cozy ride to Wasserburg's Brucktor the arch is from the 14. century and was used for Salttransportation. At the next stop awaits us King Ludwig II. castle Herrenchiemsee at the Herreninsel an island on the Chiemsee lake also the Bavarian sea called, it's the biggest lake in Bavaria and the third biggest in Germany. The castle based on the model of Versailles, was one of King Ludwig's last building projects he only had the opportunity to stay there for a few days in September 1885. After this gorgeous highlight we continue riding along the lake for the first sight of the alps which are getting closer, just across the border of Austria is the beautiful city of Salzburg the fourth largest city in Austria and the birthplace of the famous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Today we leave Salzburg with a little bit of rain, we ride back over Bavaria to visit the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagles Nest). On a altitude of 1834 meter the entry of it is from a 124 meter high elevator thru a 3 meter high tunnel which is also 124 meter long. It was used exclusively by members of the Nazi Party for government and social meetings. It was visited by Adolf Hitler on 14 documented instances, but he disliked the location due to his fear of heights. After our visit the clouds moved and the sun showed up, just in time for the ride on the Roßfeld panoramic road, Germans highest panoramic road with a view of Salzburg and the Salzach Valley. We return to Austria and climb up a pass called Postalm, where we have a delicious lunch stop with typical Austrian dishes, served by a absoluty funny waiter. The narrow and windy roads brings us down the valley, where we soon reach Traunsee a lake framed by steep mountains. Here directly on the lake in the idyllic village of Gmunden we spend the night.
Today we'll know why this tour is called the alps and lakes, four lakes and over three passes are on the route of this fantastic riding day. In Bad Ischl we have our first stop for a coffee where the emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth "Sissi" had their summer Residenz the Kaiservilla. Along the Valley with some smooth curves we come to our highlight of the day Hallstatt a UNESCO world heritage and known for its production of salt dating back to prehistoric times. A replica of Hallstatt is in a province of the southern of China which costs about 940 million dollar to built. But we will experience the village from above, to have the best view we drive up with a funicular and have a walk on the skywalk to get a gorgeous view. It's noon so some of us are hungry, there's a nice restaurant over here let's have a sausage. But Michaela is really hard and let them stay hungry because she knows a better place for lunch, so nobody's understand it for the moment but a bit later they will...because after a 5 km ride we stop at a lake where a closed snack bar is but there is the van and Claudia already welcomes the group and surprises with a delicious picnic. In front of the last hotel was a local market where she got all that good cheese, sausage, fruits, vegetables and fresh bread from. Now a after lunch nap would be fine, Robin has the perfect idea to refresh and she switched in the Van from riding gear to swimsuit for a quick swim in the Hallstätter Lake. The ride goes on, the mountain passes awaits us where the Alps show up with their beautifullest face. In best riding mood we hit the passes and come up in the little village Kaprun on the bottom of the highest mountain of Austria the breathtaking Großglockner.
Our rest day in Kaprun turns into a real rest day, it's a rainy and foggy day so we make the best of it, that's our specialty ;) The tourist destination Zell am See-Kaprun is known for the glacier Kietzsteinhorn, and a year round sports center. From the valley you can use the tramway to the mountain at 3029 meter height and have a panoramic view of this magnificent area! After breakfast we walk in the hotels basement with their impressive old-timer museum, Helmut Vötter has been collecting rear vehicles for over 30 years. His dream was a BMW Isetta he assumed he would never be able to afford this small car. But with this Isetta his passion for collecting and restoring old historic cars started. The weather still is rainy and the Webcam on the Grossglockner shows just very misty views, so we have to do the sad desicion not to ride today. Some of us worked out, relaxed in the spa area or went on the glacier with the tram. At the evening we have a nice walk thru the little town, to our restaurant with a perfect view over the valley. They don't just offer savoury food, aside from that you can try the homemade schnaps.
We have to say good bye to the alps and lakes, we ride on the last winding roads passing Zell am See, and have the first coffee stop at Pillersee. Shortly we cross the border into Germany where we ride on the last pass of this tour the Sudelfeldpass, it's part of the German alproad and on 1123 meter height. The alproad also called the across alproad is one of the oldest vacation road, which leads almost exclusively thru the Bavarian alps with around 450 km stretching from Bodensee into the Berchtesgadener Land in West-East direction and reversed. With a tasty and warming up lunch stop the ride goes on thru the smooth Bavarian country roads. The sun comes out and it's warming up, so everyone could enjoy the ride. We arrive in Erding, Michaela is happy to got us back and awaits us with a Boot Beer!