June 2022 - Austria, Germany

On 16.06. the time has come! All our belongings that are not suitable for travel are stored. We excitedly hand over the keys to our apartment to the new tenants. As soon as the bikes are packed, we're off. Finally!!!!

Are we excited? Considering the route of the first few days - hardly. From Steyr via Enns, Traun, Linz, along the Traun River to Lake Traunsee and then to Bad Ischl. Here we hug our family and friends again, I want to imprint their faces in my memory.

The route from Ischl to Salzburg is, like the previous ones, also well known, often traveled, not very exciting. Although it's beautiful! Just like everything here in our homeland. The departure is even more necessary!

From Salzburg, we'll take the train to Feldkirch in Vorarlberg.

At the train station, I encounter the gentle "I just mean" side of the brown, Austrian soul. And Maik, my beloved, my partner, my friend - shows me how much I can rely on him.

Maik will take care of the last obligations of the working life for two days. On 25.06. it really means goodbye rat race. We are becoming more and more aware that we are fulfilling our dream. Luxury life on the bike with a tent. The routes are roughly planned, always with the option to deviate. The heavy luggage (approx. 36kg/person + 18kg bike) takes some getting used to. The daily physical activity as well. We take our time. We take breaks where we like. Even for a Kneipp cure in the Iller eye area.

The path leads us over Lake Constance towards the north to Ulm. The hilly Allgäu region gives us a glimpse of what it's like when we leave the plains behind. For now, it stays flat. In the nature reserve, we follow the Iller River to Ulm. Here it flows into the Danube, which we will follow towards Vienna in the next few days.

Germany is beautiful for cycling. The Germans are pleasant companions. I'm already curious about the Austrian grumpiness again ;) (I have enough of it myself)