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Day 1
Füssen to Holzgau, Austria
Monday, August 1, 2005
Distance: 70.0 (70.0)
Elevation Climbed: 600 m (600 m)
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Day 1 - Füssen to Holzgau, AustriaWe left the hostel in Füssen and rode to the Neuschwanstein castle for a group shot. On the way there was a mishap: with ten riders trying to make a sharp right turn, Ken and Beau went down and John, swerving to avoid riding over Beau's head, twisted his ankle. Though it hurt for him to walk, he could ride OK, apart from the gravel and technical off-road sections that sometimes fell our way.After reaching the Austrian border, the large group split into smaller ones, some taking the busy highway, others opting for the unpredictable but traffic-less bike paths. Either way, there were spectacular views along the River Lech, mountains looming in the distance. Lunch in Reütte was a picnic affair on the grass with items purchased from the grocery store. David taught Irene some capuella (a Brazilian martial arts dance) while John iced his ankle with a pack of frozen spinach. Mid afternoon brought a pleasant surprise when Dana showed up with Connie in a small Austrian town. Now the group is complete. The elevation and total distance was a bit more than expected, but the hills were always gently rolling and the scenery inspiring. One group had the amazing challenge of riding Cokers a long, stone and root-ridden singletrack section. Only Beau managed to ride all or nearly all the path. We were welcomed by the hostel owners as we approached, and were all extremely delighted by the superb accommodations. A private dining room and delicious Austrian meal sealed the deal. Sunburn of the Day: Joe UPD (unplanned dismount) of the day: John Quotes: "So Beau, you ready to ride today?" -Nathan "I don't have a choice, do I?" -Beau "You've gotta be a pretty confident man with that pink seat." -Scot, referring to Joe's saddle "That's why I brought my wife." -Joe "I'm going back to bed." -Andy, after a .5km ride to the grocery store before starting Day 1 "Perfect weather. I'd show you the ceremonial dance I did, but I already let the elephant I had back into the wild." -Andy "I think I can make it." -Ken, before jumping ¾ of the way across a river with his Coker "My kiwi got decapitated." -Ken, commenting on a New Zealand stuffed kiwi hanging from his uni "Your kiwi got deboditated." -Bronson, being more precise "That van smells like a rolling port-o-potty." Scot, after a packed van passed us "I thought I heard a woman's voice." -Scot, stepping out from the shower nude "Everyone should carry Advil and one tablet of cyanide in their Camelbak in case things go bad." -Andy "I just ate one and I'm not going to have another one for twenty years." -Nathan, sampling a brussel sprout "What I like about y'all is that all of you are sitting here because you want to be here. You're doing something that you love." -David at dinner "STOP!" -The group to Scot being chased by a cement truck |
Move your mouse over the images for a pop-up caption. Click on the image for a larger picture. Created: August 2, 2005 09:04
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