Summer 2020 - #2

20th to 23rd August

Ipofen, Bavaria 

East of Wurzburg to the old fortified town of Iphofen, nestled below the wooded Swanberg and vineyards lower down the slopes. Good cyling routes into the hills, forests and vineyards. First day was blistering hot and impossible to sleep at night. Fortunately, cooled down to the mid twenties over Saturday and Sunday. Clean but busy parking area adjacent to one of the town gates. 

24th to 25th August

Caldozburg, Bavaria

Heading east towards the Czech Republic stopped at another green, free stellplatz adjacent to a hilltop town and castle, for a couple of nights, at Caldozburg, about twenty kilometres north west of Nuremberg. Had a cyling day out to Nuremberg visiting the Zeppelin Field where the NSP  rallies were held in the 1930's, old town and the huge castle.

26th August

Neunburg vorm Wald, Bavaria 

Caught the tail end of the storm bombarding the UK, only strong winds with gale force gusts. Stopped off on the edge of the walled town of Neunburg, about 40km from the Czech border, noisy during the day with road traffic but quiet at night. 

27th August 2020 

Dingolfing, Bavaria 

Decided to head south into northern Italy, as persistent rain for the foreseeable future in southern Germany. Covid rates are very similar in both Italy and Germany to the UK. Had a rear tyre blow, fortunately while only  doing 30mph through a small town. So no collateral problems. Through AA breakdown cover a guy arrived in about an hour and fitted, with a struggle, the spare - which is a bit dodgy as it's fifteen years old. So a new tyre needed tomorrow! Parked up in a free stellplatz at Dingolfing about 100km east of Munich. 

28th to 29th August 2020 

Neubeuern, Bavaria 

Struggled to find a place to get a new tyre. Not usually off the shelf in the UK either, must be an uncommon size. Eventually, thank goodness for Google and Google Translate, found a really helpful supplier near Munich. Long story but turned out that the other rear tyre was damaged as well so needed two. They could only find two winter tyres in all their Munich branches and got them expressed delivered to the depot. Spare tyre carrier needed repairing as well! Such a change to find such a helpful outfit. Drove down to near the Austrian border to destress for a couple of nights on the Inn at the quaint Bavarian village called Neubeuern. 

30th August to 2nd September 2020

Brentonico, Trento, ltaly

Incessant heavy rain the second day at Neubeuern and then through Austria via Innsbruck and then over the Brenner Pass into the South Tyrol. Unfortunately, low cloud, and heavy rain most of the way. Began to clear south of Bolzano. Had intended a long days drive down to the Appenines near Ravena. Incredibly heavy traffic on the autostrada lead to a change of plan and ended up at a great sosta adjacent to Brentonico, at about 800m, a smart, clean village just over the montains on the east of Lake Garda.

Some Italians seem to have been here for weeks! Weather has been variable. Great for walking and biking. Need a bigger battery for the bike as l can only manage about 1200m uphill and 28km! Biked 800m down to Lake Garda yesterday on some unbelievably steep, narrow agricultural roads. Could never have cycled back up the same way! Used the more gently graded main road. Garda was warmer but heaving with people, cars and bikes. 

View from the sosta and Lake Garda yesterday below.