The great bike tour Day 10: out of the comfort zone - into Tyrol

"Pfiat Eana", that's how the landlady of the Lenggriser Hof says goodbye to me this morning. It's drizzling, but I'm really looking forward to today's stage. The first part is the route I've often ridden, either to visit two of my children at the Tölzer Hütte in the Vorkarwendel when they had a summer job there, or to go kayaking with P.

Thanks to the bad weather, there's hardly any traffic, I'm making good progress. The section from Vorderriß to Wallgau is particularly beautiful, it's called "Bavarian Canada" by paddlers.

I'm wondering why all the inns and cafes in Wallgau are closed, even though it's Sunday afternoon. In Krün, I realize why: the locals are busy setting up the maypole, so the main road is closed. This old tradition naturally prohibits the use of modern technology. Instead, the remarkably tall trunk is adjusted with simple wooden logs, with two logs always connected by a short piece of rope that is laid in a semicircle around the maypole. It's logical that you need many strong boys and men for that.

In Mittenwald, there's a small May market at the train station square. Not that I need a carving (Bavarian subjunctive), but luckily for me, a bicycle shop is also open and I buy a bottle of organic chain oil - I didn't know such a thing existed. Supposedly, it's over 90% biodegradable and should lubricate just as well.

With a freshly oiled chain, I climb the mini mountain pass road up to the Leutasch high plateau. My research yesterday revealed that almost all campsites here are still closed. I have the choice between another 400 meters of elevation gain and higher temperatures tonight down in the Inn Valley or the cold mountain air at over 1100 meters above sea level. Of course, the snow grouse chooses the cold mountain air. Now I can test if the tent is windproof and waterproof :)

https://www.komoot.de/tour/755570119?ref=itd

Europarcs Camping Olympiaregion Seefeld, €22.80 including tourist tax, fast Wi-Fi, modern sanitary facilities, and a heated common room.