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gerous riding, everyone just enjoying the ambiance. It had been a long day but I had promised coffee and ice cream at the summit of this Northern section. Although it was approaching 6:30, the car park was still full with many dealers just starting to dismantle their displays of a wide range of bikes. We could have stayed there for hours but it was time to leave for our hotel in Schenkenzell.

Surprise, surprise, we left Schenkenzell next morning in the rain. It had rained all night and although the bikes were safely parked, not all were under cover. I had planned two routes to Ruhpolding, one taking us through Munich City Centre, the other taking us on a longer southerly route; it was unanimously agreed that Munich should be avoided. The rain soon eased and the roads began to dry. This was a longish 280 mile route with a little autobahn but it was Monday so the lorries were back on the roads. We left the A96 autobahn early to join the B17 to Schongau, B472 to Bad Tölz and B307 to Miesbach. Although the scenery as we approached the foothills of the Bavarian Alps was stunning, the queues of slow lorries and endless solid white lines were a pain, even though we were on bikes. Eventually we joined the A8 for 23 miles before leaving on the B305, better known as the ‘Deutsche Alpenstrasse’ to Ruhpolding. Ron Luke couldn’t believe how much this restrained pace had increased the range of his FireBlade!

Having refuelled, we continued on the B305 to be confronted with yet another road closure, with no detour! A local driver continued ahead on the pavement and I decided to follow. The roadworks were more extensive than anticipated but we finally got through OK; not before we’d irritated a group of ‘mature’ cyclists. ‘Verstehen sie nicht’ was my chosen reply. We continued on the Deutsche Alpenstrasse towards the Alps foothills, through Reit-i-Winkl and our hotel for five nights in Ruhpolding.

Having covered 930 miles so far on this tour, day 4 was to be an easy day for all but the most hardy. Richard Nash, Kevin Davis and Ron Luke decided to ride into Mayrhofen (Austria) and take the cable car to the top of the mountain for lunch. John Parker and Roy Becken spent some time in the local village of Inzell while the rest of us took a leisurely ride to Obersalzberg and Kehlstein (Eagles Nest), the culmination of Martin Bormann’s dream to build a mountain top house for Hitler’s 50th Birthday, and onto Rossfeld Strasse (a private toll road) for lunch. Obersalzberg has changed out of all recognition since I was last there.

(Continued from page 35) A massive car and bus park, large restaurant, museum and multiple ticket booths for regular 25 minute coach trips to the Kehlstein House replace the ruins of Obersalzberg where the SS barracks, Bormann’s house, Goring’s house, and Hitler’s Berghof once stood.

Rudi Rechl, the hotel owner who rides a GS (what else), agreed to lead a ride to the Grossglockner Pass in Austria. Our route took us south through Reit-i-Winkl before turning east to Erpfendorf, Fieberbrunn and Saalfelden. A lovely back road route used by the locals. On route, it started to rain so we stopped for some to don wet suits. To my surprise, Rudi’s suit wasn’t waterproof. I expressed my surprise, “no problem”, claimed Rudi, “I’m not made of sugar”. Tough these Germans! As we approached the Grossglockner, the skies looked heavier over the Alps so Rudi called his wife and received a favourable weather report. He then flagged down an Italian biker to find out if it’s worth proceeding. “He’s come over from Italy where it’s sunny; it’s drying at the top but a bit misty on the way up”. We decided we’d come this far so we’re not turning back now. Good decision; although the lower section was wet and visibility very poor, the skies lifted as we reached the summit to reveal a spectacular view. . The Austrian Alps are magnificent and this road is superb. The €22.00 toll is worth every cent. After lunch we had a photo opportunity at the Grossglockner Glacier. One's sense of perspective is very poor when gazing at this glacier; the immensity of it fools the eye so that it seems closer than it actually is. The mountain dead centre in our picture is 5 miles away. The ice field is more than a quartermile below us. The glacier itself is receding at about one foot per year; in a thousand years, it will no longer exist.

Leaving the Glacier, we continued south to Lienz, Italy before turning north through the 3.5 mile Felbertauern Tunnel taking us back to Austria. The route from Mittersill to Z ell am See was very busy, it was 27ºC so we stopped for a welcome drink when leaving Z ell. Wednesday is a short day

for the hotel staff and we were asked to be back by 6 o’clock; we were running behind time and not expected to be back before 7 o’clock but this isn’t a problem when you’re the owner of the hotel! Our sincere thanks to Rudi for a superb day!

The next day we returned to Kehlstein for those who wanted to visit the sights. Roy Becken and John Parker took the bus up to Kehlstein house, Kevin Davis and I visited the new Museum, Richard Nash and Ron Luke visited Konigsee. Malcolm Kentish, Vanessa Gilder, John and Margaret Kidman, Graham Lowe, Snowie and Audrey chilled out in the warm sun. Kevin and I found the museum very interesting but it was more about the structure, growth and demise of the Third Reich. Although the building of Kehlstein house was mentioned, I expected more pictures and models describing its construction. The bunkers were an incredible experience though, especially the awesome well down to the underground river. Checkout the pictures on our Smugmug site: www.reveillerrides.smugmug.com. (editor: no longer online) After lunch Kevin, Richard and Ron rode to the Hohenwerfen Castle at Werfen, the castle used in the Clint Eastwood film ‘Where Eagles Dare’. Having returned to the Hotel, Roy, Malcolm, Vanessa, Audrey and I walked to the Rauschberg cable car but regretfully it was closed.

It was very hot on our route from Ruhpolding to Ewattingen the temperature rising to 37ºC in mid afternoon; consistent temperature throughout the day was between 33ºC to 34ºC. We made good progress apart from considerable traffic passing through Bad Tölz and a road accident near Meersberg. The traffic queue approaching Bad Tölz included 20 plus Dodge Vipers on a rally. Waiting alongside a highly polished bright red one, I asked inquisitively “do you have air conditioning?” “Oh yes”, came the reply. “Would you like to swap?” I enquired while pointing to my bike. An emphatic “no” came the reply. Ah well, it was only a thought. We soon filtered past and regrouped. John and Margaret missed a marker for a left turn in Ravensberg but Richard let Audrey, who was sweeping, know the situation. Our radios ensured I was immediately aware. Being concerned for the markers I’d left in unshaded locations, I asked Richard to ‘collect’ them as he came through so we could regroup at a filling station where I was waiting with Snowy. It wasn’t long before John called me and we arranged a convenient rendezvous. We had planned a visit to the Rhein Falls in Schaffhausen on our way to Ewattingen but everyone was hot and tired so we went straight to the hotel for a welcome beer to cool down.

Our bed for the night was in a charming family guest house located in the small village a few miles from the Swiss border. Although the bikes were safely parked there was no cover and we could see the menacing clouds meant the hot sunny