Day 1: Finally the time had come. After the weather forecast indicated no snow or heavy rain, at least for a few hours, my wife and I loaded up our TIGERs and headed west into the beautiful Salzkammergut region. In the former health resort of Emperor Franz Joseph l. and his wife Elisabeth (Sisi) we took up quarters in a historic building. On the day of arrival it was really warm for the first time and therefore after our 300 km (186,4 mi) motorcycle tour we went out with our hiking equipment and visited the Nussensee. After this 15 km hike, we looked for a cozy pizzeria in the evening and had dinner there. My TIGER loaded (Nespresso coffeemachine is always on board!) Our accommodation for the next days in the center of Bad Ischl. Some impressions on our way to the Nussensee. The Nussensee
Day 2: After a hearty breakfast we set off again with the bikes and drove around the 4 lakes of the Salzkammergut. The landscape is magnificent, but the weather unfortunately became worse and worse. However, we did not let this stop us and have reached our starting point dry after several hours of our "equipment test". The TIGER have changed in part visually, as one of our routes led along a gravel pit, where massive truck traffic was prevalent and the road was correspondingly dirty. The Attersee The Mondesee The Wolfgangsee At the Fuschlsee
Day 3: Extensive sightseeing in better weather again and enjoying local specialties. A small bar at the "Promenade" One of the oldest hotels of Bad Ischl. Started its business in 1610. The famous "ZAUNER! A well known coffeeshop here in Austria! Franz Joseph I. Elisabeth (Sisi)
Day 4: Preparations for the return trip and drive home in dry but very cool weather. Early morning temperatures -2 degrees Celsius (28.4 F) before breakfast. 1.5 degrees Celsius (34.7 F) to 6.5 degrees Celsius (43.7 F) on the 300 km (186.4 mi) return trip. Brr. But my wife survived everything with her numerous layers of clothing without any chill! It was a wonderful 801 km (497.7 mi) on our bikes despite the sometimes adverse weather conditions! After arriving home, I treated our TIGERs to an extensive cleaning. The famous "ZAUNER-Stollen". A piece of a delicious chocolate! The last stop for petrol to ride home. Back home! Some more impressions of Bad Ischl. Please excuse the repetitive images. The upload function got mad!
Brilliant photos and report, @Markus! Thanks so much for sharing your and Mrs. Markus' adventures with us. It looks like it was a delightful trip--other than some "chilly" temperatures. I did notice in looking at both your bikes in your photos from that last petrol stop that you seem to be the designated "pack horse".
@Sandi T: Dear Sandi, you've got it. My wife lovingly calls me her "Yack" . One of those extremely hairy monsters that can carry your luggage to the ends of the world. But the important thing is the "coffee machine". Without a good coffee in the morning nothing works.
@Vulpes: There are so many places to discover, but but so little time as an employed person. In my retirement I will then, if it is still possible for me then, spend even more time on the bike.
You're absoluty right @Markus , work gets in the way a lot! I've been focussing on France the last couple of years, but would love to get back to Austria. One of my highlights years ago was the " Großglockner Hochalpenstraße". I also visited Heiligenblut. Impressive little church!
@Vulpes: If you need some riding highlight hints in/for Austria for a future tour I can provide them to you!
At least your wife doesn't call you her "hairy yak"! So you weren't just kidding about the coffee machine? You actually pack one? I am impressed, @Markus.
@Sandi T: Yes I'am not kidding. One of my two pannier cases is our "kitchen case" and includes the coffee machine. At the next tour I will come up with a photo. We also take a bluetooth loadspeaker and a ruggedized tablet with us to watch some films in the evening during our tours.