Monday, June 16, 2008

Time To Splurge

61 miles, 9.8 mph, 1810' elevation gain
(Kaiser, Austria to Linz on bike; to Plattling, Germany by train; to Dingolfing on bike)



View 2008-06-16a Kaiser, Austria to Linz in a larger map


View 2008-06-16b Plattling, Germany to Dingolfing in a larger map

Highlights: overnight rain, mostly cool & overcast, completion of the Danube River bike route, train ride to River Isar, inside accommodations


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Journal: When I woke up this morning I wasn't sure what I would do when I reached Linz (about 40 km away) to complete the Danube River portion of my bike ride. The only thing I knew was I would be taking a train somewhere. Option #1 was taking the train to Gmunden (where I was about a month ago) on the edge of the Austrian Alps & riding back to Salzburg (& perhaps farther). Option #2 was training it back to Passau, Germany (where I was yesterday) and riding the River Inn towards Innsbruck, Austria. And Option #3 was returning to Plattling, Germany (where I was two days ago) & riding the River Isar up to Munich & Innsbruck. Only when I reached Linz around noon did I make up my mind. I scrapped Option #1 since the weather is supposed to be rather gloomy for the next two days, and what's the point of riding in the mountains if you can't see them? Also, the Eurocup 2008 football tournament is taking place in Salzburg (& other venues) and I didn't want to worry about finding accommodations there. I scrapped Option #2 since I know nothing about the River Inn (except for the 30 km stretch I rode a month ago), and I don't have the necessary maps. So option #3 is...ride up the river Isar to its source near the Austrian border, then take a short train ride to Innsbruck before heading downriver along the River Inn towards Salzburg. Hopefully I will have enough time to visit Berchtesgaden (which I failed to reach in May) before taking the train back to Munich to catch my flight on June 25.

As far as riding goes, there was nothing terribly inspiring today. Mostly river riding (first the Danube, then the Isar) but without too many scenic spots. By the time I reached the town of Dingolfing (home of BMW's large automobile plant) around 7 pm it looked like rain again. Since I have camped five nights in a row (including two nights in the rain) I decided to splurge and get a hotel room. As I was looking at the town's map & trying to locate the nearest hotel, an off-duty police officer saw me & kindly assisted me in finding a good place to stay. He even rode his bike with me to show me how to get there.

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