Alpen Strasse 2016

[HarveyCamm]

So last week the kids were in summer camp and my misses was working days and I'd got a few days holiday to burn so I decided to head to the German Alps and see the Alpine Road.
Booked the ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland for the Saturday night giving me an 8am start to head down to Freiburg on the Sunday - just motorway really but it was going to get me into the right area for starting the tour. Day 1 about 440 miles. Headed into Frieburg on foot once I'd got checked into my hotel which turns out to be a religious complex / education centre / conference place in the hills overlooking the town.

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First task in town learn some German beyond I need beer, so avoiding the Chinese and Turkish restaurants I found a locals place next to the cathedral for a schnitzel, katoffel and beer combo.

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From Freiburg the next day it was over to Bodensee to start the tour proper. The sat-nav kept trying to lure me onto plush dual carriageways but I wanted scenery damnit, so technology was overridden and I was rewarded with this view of Bodensee (Lake Constance)

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Having done a bit of research (for a change) I'd lined up my first bit of tourism - the Zepplin Museum in Friedrichshaven (http://www.zeppelin-museum.de/) I'd always wondered how they built such huge structures so I'd got to go and see to find out. Traffic on the minor roads was very busy and my bike was overheating so it got parked up for a couple of hours and I got to see these

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The kids play frame outside

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Mock-up of a passenger bedroom

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Space frame of the ship. It still amazes me they could build ships sooo large

[HarveyCamm]

Next stop some waterfalls at Scheidegger. The main road was closed for roadworks so a detour repaid me with this stunning view - roll with it and the journey will reward you (thumbs)

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Once I got into Scheidegger - ignoring more road closed signs I found the falls (and ice-cream stand)

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I think it was a 50m drop over 2 falls and considering that the stream that fed it all didn't look to carry much water it was very impressive

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Nice bit of shade for bike and rider

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Then head east through the alpine meadows - most of which seemed to be getting mowed that week -they all smelled of chamomile!! :huh:

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[HarveyCamm]

More manipulation of the sat-nav got me a scenic route through Sonthofen and up through the Oberjoch pass - sadly nowhere to really stop and take pictures.
Next was a quick bimble through a small corner of Austria via Nesselwangle and back into Fussen

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before a steady ride into Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the night, well the Garmisch bit actually

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If ever you need it there's a Honda dealer on the A28 near Bad Kohlgrun

[HarveyCamm]

After feasting Bavarian style in Garmisch for the night I headed along to Wallgau where a sidetrack to Vorderiss turned out to be a private toll road through the forest for €4 it was lovely

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Headed up to Bad Tolz to try and find a viewpoint Kalvarien Hill mentioned in the guide books but couldn't find it so headed over to Shliersee - very busy lakeside cafes so I headed over to Bayrischelle for lunch at a biker cafe

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3 in the afternoon so a bit quiet

Another dip through Austria at Nierderndorf and over to Bad Reichenhall for the night. Spent the late afternoon in the thermal spa - I missed the one sign in English in the whole place and plodded into the sauna area in my bathing shorts to stares from the locals I figure rather too many clothes than not enough in such circumstances

Next day heading home the air temperature kept on climbing and hit 36c between Munich and Frankfurt so I took refuge in an air-conditioned McDonalds with free refils on soft drinks across the road from this place

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try getting planning permission for that at the side of the A1 :whistle:

A long ride up to Netettal for the nights digs saw me battling hot temperatures and the crowd trying to get into a Monchengladbach home game so I was roasted and knackered by the time I finally got in for the night.
About 150 miles left to get back to the ferry on Thursday - no problem riding there but once I'd got there my alarm system wouldn't disable so I ended up having to push the bike onto the boat where I met these fine Dutch folk on their way to England for a re-enactment event

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Once the bike had cooled down and smelled it the air of Blighty the alarm disabled and I cruised the last 150 miles home for a glass or two of wine and a catch-up with me misses.

The route is well worth doing in my opinion, it may not be as well known as the Romantic Route but it was well signed and fab scenery. Maybe Denmark next year (thumbs)
Harv

[HarveyCamm]

Can't seem to put this photo in the text !!

Downsized it and it worked see above!!

[Stewie]

Thanks for sharing, looks like you had a good time (thumbs)

[Kev63]

Thanks for the report and pics. It sounds as though you had a great trip and had superb weather, although a bit too hot for the bike at times.
Hope you have got the alarm sorted. Between draining the battery, not shutting off or killing the bike completely,makes you wonder if they are worth it. Let's face it when a car alarm goes off does anybody take any notice.

[HarveyCamm]

Funnily enough the alarm has only previously gone wrong once in the 11 years I've had it and that was also at a ferry terminal - I don't think she wants to come home!
No-one took any notice of the alarm going off and no-one lent a hand, the ferry staff said they couldn't offer any assistance to get me on the boat - deep breath and push the last 1/4 mile sweating like a sweaty thing, thankfully I'd booked a cabin for the journey back so I could get a shower and recover.
It was a great break away and yes the heat wasn't great on the Weds / Thurs but the rest of the week was clear skies and 22 - 25c

[ollydog]

i know on some of the cbr bikes, mates had trouble the immobilizers with local interference and had to push 50 meters up the road and they would start again

no assistance from the staff must have been a health n safety thing or just tight lazy bastards

steve

[herman]

Nice, we did that route last year and it was bloody hot on the plains too.