The great bike tour Day 41: Train roulette

A last breakfast with this wonderful view over Verona from Camping Castel San Pietro. I pack very comfortably, the train doesn't leave until 11.00 am from Verona Porta Nuova - if it takes me, that is. I hope I can smuggle my bike with this slightly eccentric old Altöttinger cyclist who also wants to take the train and has already bought a bike ticket in Germany - I have a ticket for myself, but you can't buy a bike ticket online or at an Italian counter. There are already more than 10 people with bikes at the platform. An American woman tells me that there is a DB counter and that she bought her bike ticket there last week. So off I go, after asking 3 times I finally find this counter, the train is leaving in 15 minutes. No, all bike spots are already occupied, I can buy a bike ticket for the 1.00 pm train. Yes, gladly, and I rush back to the platform.

The ÖBB conductor is just starting to load the bikes into the extra wagon. First, he wants to see the bike ticket and of course immediately notices that mine is for the later train. I explain my situation to him - luckily in German - and show him my personal ticket. After some grumbling and growling, he finally agrees to accept my bike. Phew, got lucky. I thank him profusely, grab my luggage and jump relieved into the passenger car.

The ride goes by very quickly, I know the stations very well by now and have very pleasant compartment companions with the Graz mountain bike couple.

https://www.komoot.de/tour/790184222?ref=itd and

https://www.komoot.de/tour/790598348?ref=itd

In Munich, I saddle up my horse again and ride to my parents' place. They are shocked - I didn't announce myself because they would have gotten stressed and worried - but they are happy that I came after the initial overwhelm.