Traveling days

Well, it turns out that going through 3 different countries does take some time, even if not riding. It feels like a long time ago when we were in Trieste, loading our bikes onto the trailer and beginning a day of driving to retrace our ride from Salzburg. 

It was interesting and fun to recognize little spots that were particularly difficult to navigate, or places that we knew were far more beautiful from a different angle or at a different speed.

Our driver did a great job, and since we ended in a different location than most (we went to Trieste instead of stopping in Grado), we had the 9 passenger van to ourselves, and eventually passed the 30 bike trailer behind the motor coach that was the company's normal. 

He dropped us and all our gear behind the train station, which isn't far from the campground. We had prepaid weeks ago when the campground was full, but found it only half full on our return. We opted to not go shopping, and just dined at the gasthaus at the campground. Last time it was fine food, but somehow this time we ended up with a pork picnic and some lost items, but everyone went to bed full.

One small item became an issue,  when the emails about a new time for our specifically curated train trip (complete with bike spots) changed tone. Now, they said that the train was actually more canceled than late. 30 minutes trying to get an operator in both English and German were for nought. I guess the high point of that failure was getting to groove with a new German riding acquaintance to the Deutsche Bahn disco hold music for a while. We finally gave up and planned to get to the station early and see what they could do.

When your plans are to leave early, then the camping gods giggle and it rains overnight so that the tents are wet. 

When it is really important, then once you have started to break camp, it will start raining again. 

I really dislike putting away our ultralight tents wet, as they already feel so incredibly flimsy, and separating stuck wet layers seems like it will tear the fly.

So we did it anyway.  Wet flies, ground sheets, tent corners, and our dress tarp. Spirits were high, as we left early and hungry, planning to eat at the station. 

Next little bump in our road was that Salzburg is right across the border from Germany. So we were trying to negotiate German train tickets with an Austrian train company. It became quickly clear that we needed to jump onto the soon departing regional train to Munich, and get it all sorted there. So, we found the elevator for the 2 heavy bikes, and Lyle and Ruby ran the lighter upstairs, and we quickly secured space on the first leg.

Other than being slow, we couldn't really complain, as we had space and our bikes didn't have to be stripped to fit. The snacks in lieu of breakfast weren't great, but our kids are troopers at this point.

In Munich, we traversed a great deal of the extremely crowded station to then spend 30 minutes waiting in line for a chance to get rebooked. After 6 staff went to lunch, the other 3 soldiered on, and we eventually secured the last 4 bike spots on a late afternoon train. 

Since we had built in transportation and time to kill, we set off and did some sightseeing. 

Also had enough time to at least get the flies dry.

Ignoring the recorded admonitions to stay away from the police space.

We had an adequate meal in a beautiful location, which allowed for killing additional time, before heading back for our next train.

A great fast train headed somewhere far away, but stopping where we needed it to eventually. So luxurious to be on a whisper quiet and smooth train zooming across the land at 150 mph.

Our last connection was tight, and a free for all in terms of bikes, but the ride was only 20 minutes long, so we will soon forget the dashing about and stairs and escalators. Probably even the overcrowded train.

We were thrilled that the hostel that Liv had organized for us was local to the train station and very nicely organized. They are doing a load of laundry for us, and we brought in a very simple supper from the local Indian restaurant/ bar/disco/bowling alley/ pizzeria. All is well as we snuggle into our cots and prepare for what should be a simpler day tomorrow,  or at least a day with shorter train rides

 We should be around 100 miles from Trier, two regional trains away, where we will finally get back on our bikes and do what we do best!