Day 58 Friday 17th September - Krimml to Watten by Hazel

89.9km in 4hr 26
average 20.2kmph
max speed 49.7kmph
odometer reads 4552.6

We begin our climb up to Gerlos pass after a happily portion controlled breakfast. The sun isn't yet properly up to peek over into our perch at Krimml. The road winds around looping over, then double bends, wiggle waggles and hairpins up the mountain. Blue plaques adorn bridges and cliff cut ins updating us of our metres above sea level. At some 1300m altitude we are enveloped in cloud and the view of Krimml fades. The mist clings, our breath fogs, and still the road climbs. Eventually we reach 1526m up and stop to marvel at the krimml vasserfall vantage point, which we believe should be about the height of the pass having consulted our Europe road atlas earlier.

This morning we are only afforded a view of the tree tops below us.  Pressing on and upward, still it winds up the mountain at 14% proudly proclaimed. At last the top, the toll, the toilets and only 1630m. Merinos sodden through are stripped and dry thermals on. Thermos coffee and cake from our sheltered bench. Discussions of how many layers required for our decent continue ling enough for the rain to stop and the sun sneak through the clouds.


Scream past the toll, no payment required, and down to the actually pass at 1500odd. Down we swoop off to Zell am Zimmer(500m odd altitude) we zig zag down getting stuck behind a chain of cars behind a tractor. We swing off to breathe in the view and wait for some clear road only to run into a land train limited to 10kmph. Thankfully the our screeching brakes echoing in the tourist ears was worth them pulling in for us to overtake!

Coffee, multiple strudels then hit the flat up the valley along  a bicycle path, racing past the "opposition" cycle tourists.

But Mr sunshine is not feeling up to the job today and so the heavens open. A brief shelter under a willow to eat a chilli (leftovers from Alice and Hazel Catering) roll clealry gives little reprieve as we stop soon after under a road bridge for more food.

Then round into the next valley swinging east to Innsbrook. After much map disection the previous night the girls have opted for a moderated route to Brenner which will avoid us getting lost in the great city of Innsbrook.

So we find ourselves in Watten, home to a very large Swarovski building and what the tourist board proclaims as crystal waters spewing forth from a giant topiaried female face. A little unnerved by her we choose to cycle away from her in hope of a town centre.  Endless turns down residential streets, crossing and recrossing junctions. But fianlly tourist info, a Gasthaus booked. Then pasta and now bed, Italia tomorrow.