Day 199 Oct 25 Thu - X'mas Trees Camp after Augsburg - Railway Line Camp after Blaustein

Park in Ulm
River view of Ulm on a bridge

Busy traffic going into Ulm
Railway line Camp

Park in Ulm

Today's Distance: 94 km
Today's Temp: 6 - 10°c
Average Speed: 16.3 max: 54
Time on Bike: 5 hr 43 min
Average climb: 2% max: 11%
Trip Altitude: 529m max: 580 m
Today's spending: 7.25 euro
Total Distance to date: 12905 km
Total spending to date: 344.10 euro

Another day of good ride! The weather has been kind the past 4 days after snowing in Salzburg and slowly I am quite adapted of riding under temp between 3 -10°c now. Usually I put on a head cover,a face mask, 2 T-shirt,a cycling jersey,a wind breaker,a raincoat,2 cycling long pants,a water proof long pant, 3 pairs of socks plus a pair of leg warmer and a pair of hand grove. That will keep me going comfortably. Today's ride started at 9.20am,still on Rd 10 all the way to Ulm,passing thru' towns like Zusmarshausen,Burgau,Gunzburg without much problem but was a bit lost when rode into big town Ulm. Just too many side roads,junctions,roundabouts and the sign also very confusing on first time visitor. Setup tent after Blaustein next to a bike lane and a railway line just 10 m behind.

Day 198 Oct 24 Wed - Munich to X'mas Trees Camp after Augsburg

The half open gate to the X'mas tree camp
Was held up 2 hours in Augsburg trying to find this road sign to Ulm on Rd 10

Hate to go on the bike lanes in Germany
On the way to Ulm
Stuck in Augsburg
Around Augsburg
X'mas Trees Camp, Well hidden!

Beautiful town ( can't remember the name) I passed on the way to Augsburg

Today's Distance: 80 km
Today's Temp: 4 - 12°c
Average Speed: 16.7 max: 50
Time on Bike: 4 hr 47 min
Average climb: 2% max: 6%
Trip Altitude: 327 m max: 634 m
Today's spending: 40.85 euro
Total Distance to date: 12811 km
Total spending to date:336.85 euro

My earlier plan was to shift to a cheaper hostel for another day in Munich,but decided to ride,all b'cos of a very good weather when I woke up in the morning.No rain no snow,the road was dry and the temp was right 8°c.Started at 11 am, again sneaked in another packed of sandwich from the hostel breakfast,but no boiled eggs this time.Rode out of Munich was rather smooth, following Rd 2 to Augsburg,a real joy to ride under this "perfect weather" just like back home rides of hill resorts of Cameron Highland and Fraser Hill.But the joy was short lived when I rode into Augsburg and was held up for nearly two hours to find the way out to Ulm on Rd 10, no less than 10x I had to ask around for direction. And all of the sudden,I was caught by a police car for going against the red traffic light. Two policemen demanded a fine of 36 euro after knowing that I have a cash of 50 euro. I am really surprised. I thought the police here are well pay and need not to demand cash from a poor visitor on bike! After some reasoning and tricks again,I was left off with a warning. Finally after many anxious moments,I saw the road sign to Ulm on Rd 10, 73 km away. What a big relief! Now to look for campsite as it was almost dark at 6.30pm. Found this X'mas trees camp near the bike lane,obviously belongs to someone but the gate was half open,with nobody around, I set up my tent in between the 8 foot tall X'mas trees,well hidden.Hopefully the owner don't come and disturb at night or the next morning before I left....

Day 197 Oct 23 Tue - River Inn Camp in Wasserburg to Munich

Vietnamese Restaurant in Munich cost 10.5 euro
YMCA Hostel cost 30 euro

Today's Distance: 62 km
Today's Temp: 3 - 6°c
Average Speed: 12.7 max: 46
Time on Bike: 4 hr 52 min
Average climb: 3% max: 12%
Trip Altitude: 322 m max: 651 m
Today's spending: 32.88 euro
Total Distance to date: 12731 km
Total spending to date: 296.0 euro

A rather short ride today with occasionally shower rain but no snow,temp bearable at 3-6°c.Started to ride at 11.30 am,no picture taken as my batteries still flat. By 4.30pm rode in to the city, while busy looking for hostel from a list printed from the internet,my rear tire went flat,did not bother to change the tube,so I wheeled around,not easy to find without a city map, luckily met a nice German guy who leads me to this YMCA hostel ( 30 euro per night) and paid half of the cost. What a nice guy, I don't even know his name,but I remembered what he said " Hei, you ride this bicycle all the way from Malaysia, you must be very tired,have a hot shower and sleep well"

Day 196 Oct 22 Mon - Salzburg to River Inn Camp in Wasserburg ( Germany)

Rode into Germany' bike lane via Freilassing

I had to warm up the camera batteries in my sleeping bag overnight to take this morning picture of the campsite , managed to take only 2 shots
On the way to Traunstein, heavy snowed yesterday

6" thick snow at the side of the road

Today's Distance: 100 km
Today's Temp: 1 - 5°c
Average Speed: 17.5 max: 52
Time on Bike: 5 hr 42 min
Average climb: 2% max. 10%
Trip Altitude: 640 m max: 660 m
Today's spending: 12.38 euro
Total Distance to date: 12669 km
Total spending to date:263.12 euro

Guessed the mother nature has answered to my prayer as I woke up to a calm,clear morning,no rain and not snowing , I felt good and raring to get on the bike even though the temp still maintained at a low 3 - 5 °c. Thanks to a very positive moral boosting comment

I read from Bernd, a stern supporter to my blog " There is no bad weather, only bad clothing!"So with more and appropriate clothing on, I shall make it to Paris! Started at 10am after a very full breakfast,sneaked in my jacket 2 packed sandwiches and 2 boiled eggs,made no notice on that warning sign" No packed Lunch". Freilassing,the very first German town
crossed without any custom or passport needed. The next town of Traunstein obviously has been hit by bad snow yesterday as seen from the thick snow at the sides of the road. Couldn't take anymore pictures in Chieming and Seebruck near the Chiemsee,so frustrating that the spare batteries went flat again even though they were fully charged yesterday in the hostel.The ride came to a bigger Rd 304 at Rabendan, there was no snow here, this road will go all the way to Munich. At Wasserburg where I spotted a good campsite after the bridge near the River Inn. Tomorrow hopping for another good day to Munich , 55km away...

Day 195 Oct 20 Sun - A Day of Uncertainty in Salzburg

Saw these 2 "just married" in the hostel basement where I parked my bike

Chinese restaurant meal cost 14 euro in Salzburg

A statue of the Mozart in the tourist centre

Today's Temp: 3 - 8°c
Today's spending: 40.70 euro
Total Distance to date: 12569 km
Total spending to date:250.74 euro

" To train or to bike?...To train or to bike?..." I was really in a crossroad of 2 conflicting minds. From the hostel, train station is on my left and on my right is the chilly cold way to Munich. A strong and energetic physical over a somewhat deteriorating mental strength.The overnight train ticket from Salzburg to Paris cost 137 + 20 euro for the bike,rather expansive,but I haven't make up my mind yet,just to KIV.Extended another day in the hostel,hopping that the weather will be kind to allow me to complete my mission at least to Paris if not London.I am really keeping my fingers crossed! Like I said and I am saying it again - To take a train is the last thing that I want to do!!

Day 194 Oct 20 Sat - Snowseeing Tour in Salzburg

Walk around the Hohensalzburg Fortess on the hill
Drinks from the icy water, hmmm , real good!
cafe restaurant no customer under this weather
View of the city from the hill
Youth & Family hostel

Heavy snow but real experience for me

Pedestrain and cycling paths near the Salzach river
Many bridges across the Salzach river which divided the city
Paris & London cafe Restaurant

Musuem of Salzburg

View on other side of the river
Have you seen the movie " Where Eagles Dares " . That's the Fortess in the film

Pictures when the snow stopped



Tourist Centre

Today's Temp: 4 - 10°c
Today's spending: 35.37 euro
Total Distance to date: 12569 km
Total spending to date: 210.04 euro

Had a very good full complementary breakfast from the hostel but the morning weather still snowing badly with strong wind. The hostel internet not allow to upload photos , so went out at 9.30am under bad weather for a snow seeing tour , found one internet cafe but the charges was sky high for 12 euro per hour. Asked why so expansive " This is a tourist centre!" Ridiculous! Went back to hostel to warm up and had my left over food for lunch. Went out the 2nd time when the snow stopped at 3 pm. This time was lucky to find this internet only charged 2 euro per hour. And also taken more pictures. I'll definitely not going to Innsbruck and Switzerland near the Alpine under such cold weather. Most probably to Munich in Germany and cross over to France. If the weather continued to be bad, I might consider train to Paris, that's the last thing I want to do....