Tag: Austria

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 bicycle touring in Austria

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Bicycle Touring Europe: Austria, In Innsbruck | Travelsonabike2

Bicycle Touring Europe: Austria, In Innsbruck

Cycling Europe, heading for Greece, my latest bicycle touring update from Austria. A day in Innsbruck. Decided not to go anywhere today, as it’s another wet day. And there were one or two bits that I wanted to do but couldn’t whilst moving.

The first was a trip to the hospital! My back went again about a week ago, which then, in turn, started my sciatica off again! I’m fine all the time I’m riding. I’m not in any pain at all. It’s only when I stop and start to walk or at night when I try to sleep. I don’t normally have any trouble sleeping! I’d only brought a few of my painkillers, thinking that I wouldn’t need too many, which I soon used up. Paracetamol just isn’t strong enough, and they won’t give you anything stronger at the pharmacy, hence the trip to the hospital!

Garry McGivern bicycle touring Europe in Innsbruck Austria on a busy street of people
Altstadt Innsbruck

After an examination by a doctor at the hospital, they gave me a prescription or a recipe, as they called it, for some stronger stuff! Looking forward to a good night’s sleep tonight, hopefully! What with my sciatica, I’d also picked up an eye infection and had to get some antibiotic eye drops in France. But that’s all cleared up now. Let’s hope that’s it now for all my ailments! The joys of getting old!

Whilst I was here, I decided to get a haircut, which proved a bit harder than I thought! Despite there being loads of hairdressers, I couldn’t find a barber. Well, not until after I’d had a haircut. All the hairdressers I tried were just too busy and couldn’t fit me in. I did eventually find one with only a half-hour wait.

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

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Bicycle Touring Europe: Austria, Weisenbach To Innsbruck | Travelsonabike2

House in valley

Bicycle Touring Europe: Austria, Weisenbach to Innsbruck

Cycling Europe, heading for Greece, my latest bicycle touring update from Austria. Weisenbach to Innsbruck. 63 miles. Well, I don’t think I planned this route too well! I had another two big climbs today. Oh, wait, I never plan my routes! For that precise reason, I don’t like knowing in advance that there’s a big climb coming! I prefer to cycle along, thinking the world is flat! Then, when I do come across a hill, it’s a surprise!

The day’s first climb was up the Fern Pass at 1200 metres. Although not as high as the first, the day’s second climb continued for a long time!

At the hotel last night, there was a group of English people. They were all members of the Lotus Owners Club and were on a tour of Austria in their cars. I didn’t speak to them, except to say hello and ask where they were going. It was only 7 pm, and they all seemed a bit worse for wear! One of the group was definitely drunk! He told me it was downhill from the hotel to Innsbruck! Now, when somebody tells me that it’s downhill all the way, I always take it with a pinch of salt! Especially if they’re in a car! But if he didn’t notice the Fern Pass, it’s a bit worrying!

Cars in front of house
An impressive collection of cars

I was glad to finish today and get a warm shower. It’s been raining on and off all day, so my waterproofs have been on and off all day! Although I don’t know why I bother, especially when going uphill. All I do is sweat and get just as wet from the inside out! Which then makes me feel cold.

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Follow Garry on his travels

Subscribe to my email and follow me on my travels

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Bicycle Touring Europe: Lindau, Germany To Weisenbach, Austria | Travelsonabike2

Garry McGivern bicycle touring Europe by Haldensee a picturesque lake in Austria

Bicycle Touring Europe: Lindau, Germany to Weisenbach, Austria

Cycling Europe, heading for Greece, my latest bicycle touring update from Austria. Lindau, Germany, to Weisenbach, Austria. 67 miles. Well, that wasn’t a very good start to the day, finding that my breakfast had been stolen in the night! I’d brought a nice roll and some ham ready for breakfast. And had heard some rustling in the night. I just thought that something was after the ham, so I moved that into the inner tent with me. Not realising that they’d already stolen the roll! Luckily, I still had the ham and one packet of noodles left from China!

Once I’d packed up and started moving, it started to get really misty, or I thought it was mist. It was, in fact, smoke. I could smell smoke, but just thought that somebody had a fire or something. It wasn’t until a few miles up the road that a car flashed me. To which I stopped. Luckily, the woman spoke English and told me that the road was blocked because there was a farm on fire. And I’d have to find another route. But it still wouldn’t be good, as the whole valley is filled with smoke!

Now Where

I thanked her for her help, but not knowing any other way. I continued up the country road, which was also the cycle route. After another mile or two, I came upon the fire or a few hundred yards from it anyway. The road was blocked off by fire engines and an ambulance! With no way through and the smoke really thick, I asked one of the firemen which way I should go. He said if I go right and go up the hill to the next to the village. Then take another right and go up another hill that should bring me out on the right road! Sure enough, he was right. As I rode up the first hill, I was out of the smoke and in lovely sunshine, which lasted all day.

Had some really big hills, or rather mountains to climb up today (making up for yesterday’s flat ride, I think!) But I don’t mind so much if I know that I’m on the right road and going in the right direction!

Even though I was on the German/Austrian border last night, it wasn’t where I wanted to cross. So I’ve spent most of the day cycling along it before finally crossing into Austria late this afternoon. Not sure if I’ve come the best way, though it’s been really hard going!

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Follow Garry on his travels

Subscribe to my email and follow me on my travels

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First view of Austria