Saturday 10th September 1983
Breakfast was nice but there was little of it. The weather was nice and my motorbike was very reluctant to start. We got underway and headed out on the motorway to Munich, stopping for petrol as George’s bike went on reserve fuel. After a while we took to the minor roads, destination Augsberg in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany. Here we had our usual coffee break (at an extortionate price) to the tune of a couple of violins. The town is very pleasant with it’s traffic-free walkways and buskers in the centre. It is now threatening to rain.
The rain never came and after a walk around town (George posted his cards but I didn’t have the correct money for the machine) we headed off on a less major road to Munich. The road was far more pleasant than the autobahn and despite a barrage of winged insects, the rural and forest scenery rolled pleasantly passed.
Our next stop was at Fürstenfeldbruck in Bavaria. The sun was blazing by now and we bought a tin of fruit salad each to refresh and nourish us. Then we walked through the lovely little town and sat reading by the river Amper. We were pestered by a scrounger who got short shrift from us. Borrow 3 Deutschmarks indeed!
Again we hit the dreaded autobahn but our spirits were high as the sun shone and the scenery became more scenic. We skirted the southern outskirts of Munich and took the Salzburg route out of town. The view continued to improve and just before Rosenheim we pulled in at a layby. We looked at the lake here and when we returned the bikes were on their sides, laying as if exhausted. Indeed, they should be as they have covered over 800 miles this week.
We read our books on a hillock and watched several people walk around our bikes staring with amazement. We moved on and my spirits lifted at the sight of the Alps on my right. A feeling of excitement hit me and my depression of this morning was forgotten. I felt a sense of awe and adventure and knew then that I was doing the right thing by coming on this trip.
We found the Youth Hostel at Prien on Lake Chiemsee despite it being well hidden from the road that the signs indicated that it was in. It was lucky that we had the address in our YHA handbook. No members kitchen again – what a bastard. We’ve got no food today but a brew up would have gone down a treat. Now we are weary and dismal again. The dormitory is like a prison cell. We got outside and walked along by the lake. The whole town of Prien am Chiemsee is a certified air and Kneipp spa and is built for tourism. We feel out of place amongst the fat affluent holiday-makers. We chat over a coffee (after being ignored at the first café we stopped at) and cheer up as darkness descends. Back at the hostel we wash, read and retire.
Bike reading 14,498 miles
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