Crossing the border
The top of the pass
19th May
Leaving Bolzano, heading for Salzburg, the GPS took us totally the wrong way to what we had planned, but it turned out to be over really good roads. It was cold riding, and started raining, then Lyn's bike started cutting out again, time to stop for a cup of tea and thaw out. It was a good decision, the rain passed, we just got some light drizzle, but nothing heavy. We booked into a room about 10 kms outside of Lienz, which took some finding, as there was no phone reception, and we hadn't written down the name of it. We found it, asked the owner, she said no, not here, so headed off into the nearest village, then she chased us in her car and said yes, that was it. The booking came in via email late! We had tinned tuna for tea, too cold and wet to go to town!
Leaving Bolzano, heading for Salzburg, the GPS took us totally the wrong way to what we had planned, but it turned out to be over really good roads. It was cold riding, and started raining, then Lyn's bike started cutting out again, time to stop for a cup of tea and thaw out. It was a good decision, the rain passed, we just got some light drizzle, but nothing heavy. We booked into a room about 10 kms outside of Lienz, which took some finding, as there was no phone reception, and we hadn't written down the name of it. We found it, asked the owner, she said no, not here, so headed off into the nearest village, then she chased us in her car and said yes, that was it. The booking came in via email late! We had tinned tuna for tea, too cold and wet to go to town!
Loading the beast into the trailer
20th-21st
Today we were heading for Salzburg to meet our Australian friends Wayne and Jules, It was raining and cold, but we had a deadline to meet, so packed, loaded up and jumped on the bikes, only to find Lyn's wouldn't start. It eventually fired, but I wasn't confident, so followed Lyn about 200 meters before it stopped again, and would not restart. After much playing around in the rain, we got it going long enough to get back to the shed at the B&B, and plan B. There was a bike shop in
Today we were heading for Salzburg to meet our Australian friends Wayne and Jules, It was raining and cold, but we had a deadline to meet, so packed, loaded up and jumped on the bikes, only to find Lyn's wouldn't start. It eventually fired, but I wasn't confident, so followed Lyn about 200 meters before it stopped again, and would not restart. After much playing around in the rain, we got it going long enough to get back to the shed at the B&B, and plan B. There was a bike shop in
View from the train, cold and snowy out there!
Lienz, so we organised a trailer from our host's neighbour, unpacked again, got the bike into town and left it with him to fix while we jumped on a train to Salzburg. After looking out of the window of the train at the snow, we didn't miss the ride at all. Good to catch up with Wayne and Jules again, out for tea, another good night. The next day we had organised to go to the Eagles Nest, Hitler's meeting place nearby, which has spectacular views, but it was a whiteout and snowing, so there was no views to see. Disappointing, so we
With Jules and Wayne, that snow should be INSIDE the fridge.
went back to Salzburg, where we visited the castle and museum, then went to see the movie, "The Second Best Marigold Hotel". A 300 metre jog to catch the bus topped of what was a good day after all.
22nd-26th
Another train trip to Vienna, the trains are so good, they sit on 150-180 kph most of the time, though I did see it over 200 kph once, and it just didn't seem like it. We found an aussie bar and had a beer there, then made it to our accommodation around 5.00 pm. A friend of a
22nd-26th
Another train trip to Vienna, the trains are so good, they sit on 150-180 kph most of the time, though I did see it over 200 kph once, and it just didn't seem like it. We found an aussie bar and had a beer there, then made it to our accommodation around 5.00 pm. A friend of a
Piggy bank in Vienna
friend generously offered to put us up for a few nights, thanks a lot Anna, it was great staying with you! Still raining, we walked around the city a lot, and did a hop on hop off bus tour to see the sights. It is a beautiful city. Wayne and Jules left on the 25th, so we were on our own again. Checking the bank, we found we had had our visa card skimmed, and had lost $1,000 from our account, withdrawn from an ATM in Lima, Peru, so frantic calls to the bank to cancel the cards. New ones would be sent on ahead in a couple of weeks. On our last night, some of
With Anna and Sylvia on the last night.
Anna's friends came over, and we talked until the early hours of the morning, a great night. Chris helped us with a computer issue, thanks mate!
27-30th
We caught a bus to Graz, and booked into the Ibis Budget hotel for the night, then spent a day sightseeing around the city, very nice. We looked at the Schloss, went up in the funicular, and wandered around the transport hub, where you need eyes like a crab to cross the road, trams, buses, and people everywhere. I rang
27-30th
We caught a bus to Graz, and booked into the Ibis Budget hotel for the night, then spent a day sightseeing around the city, very nice. We looked at the Schloss, went up in the funicular, and wandered around the transport hub, where you need eyes like a crab to cross the road, trams, buses, and people everywhere. I rang
Restaurant in the middle of the river, Graz
Gerri's, the bike shop where Lyn's bike was, and the problem had been found, (a crook coil), and the parts ordered, should be sorted by the 29th. We had to catch 3 trains to get back to Lienz, and the first one arrived late at Bruck, so we missed our next 2 connecting trains, that cost us 3 hours, and an extra train ride! Luckily Gerhard at Gerri's was kind enough to stay back on the friday night to enable us to pick up the bike, great service at a good price, would recommend him to anyone. A cold dark ride back to Nickensdorf and the
Part of the Grossglockner
guest house, but it was like coming home. A good nights sleep, then off to the Grossglockner pass, it was open, but snowing at the top, and the digital thermometer at the top said 0.2 degrees when we went through the tunnel, and had soared to 2.8 on our way back! The scenery was indescribable, well worth the cold and wet ride. From there back to the room, spend some time checking the bikes over, and meet Wolfgang and Tamara, two other guests who turned up on bikes for the night. Tomorrow we're off to Slovenia.
Riding up the pass
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That digital thermometer said 0.2 degrees earlier!
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