Day 8 – Trento to Peschiero

Very exited today – we have a 5 hour boat ride – great to have some down time.

Seems we haven’t really planned too much down time …. Perhaps I should go back and read my previous blogs to see what I have said about downtime.

I won’t be getting up at 5.00 in the morning to catch up on my blog writing.

Perfect blue skies today – how the weather forecast has changed.

We have been warned that our bike ride includes a 5 hour boat ride and that if we are not at the boat at 2.40 pm – the boat will leave without us. Not sure what is option B, we didn’t ask .

Suggested depart time from Trento is 8.00 am , we depart after 9.00 am – we will need to make up the time.

We have appox 50 kms to travel today so should do it easy.

Very pleasant riding along the river, large mountains on either side.

Cycle way is like a highway today – so many cyclists using the trail. I guess everone likes sun.

We arrive at the 44km point – we can see Lake Garda at the bottom of a steep descent. Very pretty.

Lake Garda – a deep Green – the colour of the ocean – only fresh water.

We arrive on the shores of Lake Garda – many tourists – many hotels – lots of people laying on the beaches (pebbles) – swimming – sailing – VERY trendy.

Still a few kms to go – not obvious where we catch the boat or which boat. After that is resolved. A quick Gelato and paddle the feet in the lake.

We have now had 3 hours on the boat – stopping at all the towns that dot the lake. My blog is now real time, rather than catch up.

I have never been to the French Riveria however the towns look like how I imagine the Riveria looks.

The boat should arrive at Peschiera at 7.55 pm.

Cycle maps that we read according to kms travelled on our cycle computer

A visual cycle map

Mmm !!! Not sure.

Views heading into Lake Garda

Lake Garda – Belissimo

On the shores of Lake Garda

On lake Garda

On Lake Garda

Day 7 – Different styles of growing produce

We found it interesting how grapes and apples were grown.

Grapes grown on a trelis – but grown vertically like a tree. Grapes appear at the bottom of the vine.

Grapes are grown on a trelis – but in the shape of an upside down “L” . Most of the grapes can be picked by wallking under the vine.

Grapes are grown on a “Y” shaped trelis . Grapes are picked from either side of the “Y”

Apples are grown in thin vertical rows – quite close together – many apples on each tree.

Day 7 – start of bike ride #1

First day of our bike ride has arrived.

We have been watching the weather for the last few days – start of ride is not going to be fun.

Prediction was 10-20 mm for the first few days with a 90% chance of rain.

However, last night it got revised downwards 5 – 10 mm @ 90% chance. Much better but still not wonderful.

We depart hotel to pick up our bikes. Our bike ride is self guided. We sit down with eight other people and are told how the days will operate. How to read the maps. The bikes are explained to us – right hand operates the back brake – Left hand for the front brake – opposite to Australia.

We bid farewell, and head out onto the cycle trail. It is now about 9.00 am.

It is now raining – making the start of the bike ride that much more difficult.

Day 1 and day 2 of the cycle sees us heading towards Lake Garda – The biggest lake in Italy.

Rain is a pain – however, it starts to break up by about lunch time.

There are two prominent crops grown in this part of Italy – Grapes or Apples. Every square inch of available land is taken up growing these two crops. We are always travelling past these two crops.

There is an abundance of water – we pesume it all flows from the Dolomites.

We will overnight in Trento – Never really heard about Trento. But what a surprise – the place looks like a movie set – very old – very ancient Rome – very clean. In some instances it is hard to pick if the buildings have been expertly restored or are relatively new buildings made to look old.

I dont know.

A big day – approx 75 kms travelled

Cycling though a tunnel – just out of Bolzano

We largely follow the Adige river from Bolzano to Lake Garda.

Rain clouds hanging about.

The fountain in central Trento

In the piazza of Trento

Check out the pavement and gutter in Trento – all throughout central Trento.

Day 6 – Domomites

Day starts well. Apart from the blue light that appears on our hire car. Try to look at the car manual – booklet in French, German, Italiian – no helpful.

Decide if is important light would be red – W contiues to drive – light eventually goes out.

A short drive to Murano. Nothing much open – we are here early and it is Sunday.

We find a cafe and have coffees to make up for our quick breakfast.

A walk around Murano down near the river. A very pretty botanical garden surrounds the fast flowing river.

Such a lovely spot.

Northern Italy is apple country, apples are grown anywhere the Italians can find a hill. It is apple picking time. We purchase apples from a market stàll in Murano.

Mmm ! We are dissapointed …. apples are not great.

We continue to wander after picking up supplies for lunch.

We depart after about 3 hours and head to LAKE ….

Lake is only small but is a rich blue / green colour and sits below a fanastic mountain back drop. However, everyone is some what dissappointed … there has been extensive tree fellling near the tourist hot spot…. Not sure how this has been appoved in a UNESCO area.

Lots of infrastructure money being spent at this tourist hot spot. We only hope tree felling is part of the bigger pictue. L decides it’s part of a grander plan as a ski resort.

It is about 4.00 pm by now and we decide to head back to the hotel for any early night. The 7 day bike ride

starts tomorrow.

We are about 25 minutes from our hotel… when a red light with a spanner appears on the car’s instrument panel.

Next hour is spent phoning various numbers we can find on HERTZ paperwork. Not fun as it is Sunday and place where we picked up the car is not open Sunday.

R has an app on his his phone that translates via a camera direct to the screen. Very handy for reading car manual.

Red sign translates to “do not drive car – get a mechanic”

After and hour of getting no where …. we decide the red light means “your car is due for a service”

We dicide red light is not important and continue to drive. Red light continues for the next 5 kms.

Thankfully, it goes out and we return car without any further dramas. Thanks HERTZ.

W has done an excellant job driving a manual car … not one stall… thank you W.

Back to hotel to plan our 70+ km bike ride.

Merano

Merano river walk

The lake, the missing trees and the man in the hat.

A stop along the road

Day 5 – Dolomites

Picking up a hire car from Bolzano Airport.

We have checked out how we will bus it to the airport the day before.

Luckily we had decided everyone was going to the airport to pick up hire car.

First thing HERTZ advise – NO automatic cars – even though we had BOOKED one..

That was problem number one with HERTZ.

Fortunately, W is able to drive a manual – luckily he came to the airport.

Next issue with HERTZ, only 3/8 of a tank of fuel … Supposed to be full… Thanks HERTZ.

We head towards “Lake Braies” – somewhere in the Dolomites – not knowing where to drive or what to see. We were just aware that the Dolomites are extensive and our time is limted. About 5 kms before our destination we are diverted by the police. Thinking that there had been an accident ahead.

That was not the case, all cars were directed to a parking lot. We quickly discover that is a huge operation – buses are waiting about 1 km away, ferrying people up the mountain to see the lake. After purchasing bus tickets we join the crowd and head to the lake.

The lake, surrounded by huge mountains with many nice walks. A walk around the lake is manditory followèd by a walk along the base of the mountains.

As our time is limited, we cut short our walk – catch bus back to the car and head to our next destination – Tre Cime.

Again – not sure how it all works – we just follow the signs. Many demands on W, to pull over, as the scenery gets better and better. Eventualy, come to some boom gates – pay our 30 euro and park the car. Luckily no buses at this point as it was already 3pm.

We start on a 10-12 km walk – to see the 3 peaks – Tre Cime. Scenery was outstanding – weather a bit funny – fog, mist, a bit of rain and then SUN.

We return to the car at 7.30 pm – a long drive home – too late to eat dinner.

An awesome BIG day.

Lake Braies

Walk around the lake

Tre Cime in fog

Tre Cime – as good as it gets

Photos don’t do it justice – great views 360 degrees

Day 4 – Munich to Bolzano

A day to catch up. It has been a hectic pace since we met B & W a day or so ago.

No time to write blog. As usual, blog gets written a day or so late – when days start ot merge in the memories.

B & W staying in different hotel to R & L so we co-ordinate meet up via text messages .

B is the only one with mobile data so we are relying on her for all of our touring.

We have a train trip today from Munich (Germany) to Bolzano (Italy) .

Train is not until 9.30 – so good oportunity to slow down a bit.

B & W have train tickets – but do not have reserved tickets – so we bid them fairwell while we settle in to our reserved seats.

It is not long before we are being accused of being in someones seats. We are quite familar with the booking of reserved seating on trains. We stand our ground while the man doing the accusing searches for his tickets.

Turns out he and his partner are sitting besides us (4 seats facing eachother) his other two friends are across the aisle. Those seats being occupied by someone who doesnt know the reserved seating rules.

All a bit chaotic as people try to find a seat in a over booked train.

Train journey will take us 4 hours – through the mountainous valleys and precisely engineered tunnels. Including the famous Brenner Pass – 3 minutes in the train.

Arrive Bolzano, check into our Air bnb.

A gelato is in order, then a walking tour of Bolzano.

Bolzano, an old town in a beautiful valley. Grape vines growing up over the mountains.

Pizza local Bolzano wine and beers for dinner.

Grape vines and the man in the hat

The valleys of Bolzano

The town of Bolzano and the man in the hat

Day 3 – Car from Munich

Today we pick up a hire car from Munich railway station.

Our aim today is to visit Neuschwanstein Castle.

We have pre-booked reservation for castle #1 at 10.55 am and castle #2 at 1.30 pm. However, tickets must be picked up prior to 9.55 am

Hence the reason that we are picking up our hire car at 7.00 am in the morning – with a 90 / 120 minute drive ahead of us.

Road rules – Driver get into car from left of the car – small right for right hand turns – large left for left hand turns – turn right into a roundabout, look left first.

Neuschwanstein, a fairy tale Castle, commissioned by King Ludwig. Built in the 1800’s in the style of an ancient castle.

Realestate is all about location, location, location and Neuschwanstein is no exception. The postcards don’t lie – it really is picture perfect.

B is the navigator and does a fantastc job getting us from point A to Point B.

Our next stop, Füssen, a short stop from the castles. A typical German town – nice for a wander.

As we have plenty of daylight hours, we continue on our journey into Austria.

We have paid a premium on our car hire to be able to travel to Austria, I hope it is good.

Ah, not another castle, yep next stop Linderhof Castle. Another castle commissed by Ludwig. This time in the interior is in the style of Versailles only much smaller, but with all the OTT* gold leave features. Stunning, well worth the Austrian detour.

Scenery, getting there was fantastic, very green , very mountainous, very narrow windy roads – a bit of a challege. No motion sickness for L, all is good.

Dinner is in a German beer garden in Garmisch, no litres tonight.

Next challege to get back to Münich in the dark. We had our suspicions about the cars headlights. On our outbound trip, dashboard lights would dim when we entered tunnels. We assumed lights were on auto. But could not really see headlights turn on. Problem quickly became more obvious when we started driving home. Eventually sorted out.

We get back to Münich around 10.30 pm. Having travelled about 300 kms averaging 5.8 litres per 100kms. A nice little car to drive.

Neuschwanstein Castle

A view stop in Austria

Füssen town

Linderhof

* OTT – over the top

Day 2 – Munich

A long journey – we have finally arrived.

Usual logistics problems getting from Munich airport to hotel accommodation. Always find it a challege to turn on all the senses when you arrive in a new place.

I am not sure if modern technology is a plus or a minus with travelling, but it seems you can no longer live without wi-fi.

This is the first time we have come away with a data sim for the phone – so we are going higher tech than usual.

We are meeting B&W in Munich. Their stay in London (2 years) has come to an end.

B&W flight has been cancelled from London to Munich – they arrive in Munich but 15 hours late. However, only 2 hours after us.

R&L meet with B&W for a half a day tour of Munich on public transport.

A city tour is manditory.

Who would have thought you would see surfing in downtown Munich – Surfing in the local park (think botantical gardens) on the fast flowing river.

Nice parks and nice buildings in down town Munich.

A short journey on the train to the site of the 1972 Munich Olympics – famous for all the wrong reasons.

Ok we have mastered the Munich trains – now we adventure on the local buses – not something R&L normally do.

We go to Nymphenburg Palace – and have a tour – another one of those OTT palaces of Europe – impressive.

Back on the trains, to the old part of Munich. A buzz with people and a nice place to wander.

You cant visit Munich without a visit to a beer hall. Dinner and 3 litres later we head back to hotel for a well earned rest. At the beer hall you can only buy beer by the litre (talk about RSA). R&W have a litre each – B&L share.