Bicycle Trip to Greece Dr. Hans-Jürgen Weber 26.04.2013 - 17.05.2013


  

Map


26.04.2013 Haiger
27.04.2013 Rückingen
28.04.2013 Würzburg
29.04.2013 Pleinfeld
30.04.2013 Taufkirchen/Vils
01.05.2013 Freilassing
02.05.2013 Tweng
03.05.2013 Villach
04.05.2013 Bovec
05.05.2013 Ilirska Bistrica
06.05.2013 Karlobag
07.05.2013 Pirovac
08.05.2013 Omis
09.05.2013 Slano
10.05.2013 Budva
11.05.2013 Shkoder
12.05.2013 Fier
13.05.2013 Himare
14.05.2013 Igoumenitsa
15.05.2013 Paleros
16.05.2013 Platanovrisi
17.05.2013 Zakynthos

Statistics

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02.05.2013, 7. day, 120 / 895 km, Tweng

Christel and Emmanuel heartily say goodbye to me. The weather forecast is for light rain in the afternoon.
After a short time I enter the rush hour traffic at Salzburg, but there are bike lanes everywhere.
I follow the Salzach river a long time and pass the castle of Hohensalzburg. It is dry and not too cold. The strong tailwind helps me to go on.
At Bischofshofen I have to leave the Salzach river, now it goes non stop uphill. Additionally it begins to rain. I try to drive with the wind jacket , but I get too hot so I have to take it off even though I’ll get wet. But at this point it is only light rain.
Radstadt seems to be very quiet, all Cafes are empty. I find an open one and enjoy some icecream.
Then I go on to Untertauern. The Tauern bike trail is recommended, so I take it. It has a lot of scenic variety but the ride is exhausting. Partially it is gravel, sometimes I have to cross small ditches, always along the roaring river Taurach. It is so loud that after a while I almost wish to have stayed on the main road.
The rain increases, the temperature decreases. Now there are 11 km to the highest point, the Tauernpasshöhe. I had planned to take a break every km. This doesn't work because I immediately get cold when I stop. So I have a short break after 6 km for drinking something and eating a piece of chocolate. The miles seem to be very long. My speed is only 3.8 km/h because it is so steep. But I don't get off and push the bike.
In spite of heavy muscle work I get cold and am looking forward to drinking a hot tee at the Hotel Wagner at the highest point. There is still a lot of snow, temperature 5°C (41°F), heavy rain.
All cafes and hotels are closed. I have never seen Obertauern so bleak.
I quickly put on two jackets, gloves and headband. Now it goes down to Tweng with very high speed.
I don't want to sleep in my tent tonight. The next campground is in Mauterndorf, 10 km away.
I find a small hotel in Tweng where I can take a hot shower and get something to eat: goulash soup with bread. There is nothing else.
But I become full, I am warm and dry. What more do I want?

Goodbye

Only 7 km to Salzburg

A biker just in front of me in rush-hour traffic

The Salzach river in Salzburg

Very beautiful bike trails close to the Salzach river

One of the many signs at the Tauern bike trail

In some places it is far away from the main road

The first (small) mountain pass

River, railway, road, and above all of it the Tauern-autobahn

I meet the first long distance bikers. They are going from Salzburg to the Adriatic Sea

The castle of Hohenwerfen is just being renovated.

Radstadt looks much like a ghost town

There is a beautiful but exhausting bike trail to Untertauern

You can hear the goats from far away

The Taurach river is very full. The roar is really loud
(video -> click on the picture)

Finally in Untertauern. From now on it really goes uphill

Long before I get to Obertauern there is still a lot of snow

In Obertauern everything is closed

Finally: the famous goulash soup