Safe Return Doubtful

37 miles (60 km) – Total so far: 1,110 miles (1,786 km)

My GPS trace was over the same ground for the last 10 km last night.
I was after a camping site marked on google maps and that I had read of in a G blog that is now closed. And directed to a Gasthaus that also had closed down.
In the end this place was wonderful. 28 euros with a good breakfast. Good Weiss err and food also.

Great riding first thing until…. traffic chaos…

Along the Drau river until Spittal then plenty of up and down on an isolated bike path to Obervellach, good riding with great views.

I’m crossing the Alps at the Tauren tunnel, it’s a 10 km train ride.
But first it’s up steeply, 500 metres in 7 kilometres., the first two at 10-12%, hard work with a loaded bike.

To the Alpine village of Mallnitz, at just under 1200 metres.

Shelter from the showers…
10 km Tauren tunnel through the Alps

10 km later and emerging from the tunnel at Böckstein, in heavy rain now.
It’s a few more km downhill to Bad Gastein, a spa town with designer shops and plenty of 5 star hotels.
I stopped for a cup of tea to shelter from the rain and 8C temperature, but was swiftly back on the bike when I saw the 5 Euro price…

Camped about 3 km south of Bad Gastein and the rain eased.
The only other person on the site that this time last week was full is an old couple in a caravan who told me to pitch the tent. The owners aren’t here either.