Euro Bike Tour - Bavarian Alps with Cindy & Laurie!

Last week, we had 2 visitors!  Cindy (my work friend from good ol' High Point, NC) and Laurie (my college lax friend- Go Blue).  Cindy, an iron man athlete, encouraged us to do a bike trip so we signed up for a self-guided tour of the Bavarian countryside.   She arrived on her birthday so we celebrated at the Stuttgart Summer Festival.

Me, Laurie, Cindy

We danced around stages with live music and tents set up along the water.

Photo taken a few minutes before Spanish cover band played "Celebration" and Cindy climbed on stage to dance resulting in a "Happy Birthday Cindy" serenade by the band!

The next day, we took the train to Munich and visited the English Garden (one of the world's largest public parks) with a river and rapids filled with surfers.

Laurie and Cindy brought fancy cameras (and contributed many pics to this blog)

Cindy enjoyed her Dunkel beer during her first trip to the Hofbrahaus.

Laurie was eager to taste the traditional Bavarian white sausages.

I stuck with pretzels

The next day, Laurie & Cindy's shiny red rental bikes were delivered to our hotel.

We took off on a 4 day adventure called the Euro Bike Munich Lakes Tour.

 Yes, Cindy will rock this goofy helmet for the entire expedition

1st stop along the bike path- very authentic

Cindy with thirst quenching Radler (half beer, half lemonade) 

Lake Starnberg - Germany's 5th largest freshwater lake fed by glaciers from the Alps

The cycling path winds 28 miles around Lake Starnberg and into the woods.

Super speedy pace thus a blurry photo

Konig Ludwig Castle on our bike route!

 We spotted an ice cream boat at sea that also sold beer!

It floated away before we had time to park our bikes :(

We rested at the Fishmarket Beer Garden and enjoyed a delicious snack (I was thrilled with the refreshing seafood options)

Seaweed salad and smoked salmon herb cream cheese pinwheel

 By the end of the day, we rode 69 kilometers exploring off the beaten path terrain.  We arrived at the hotel 5 precious minutes before a thunder storm.

Delirious with scrumptious appetizers

Hotel Seeblick's restaurant surprised us with the best "German" food yet!

Tasty fish stew with fresh herbs

The next day was supposed to be our shortest route (35 KM) but we ended up riding over 60 kilometers again.

Many years relying on a GPS had left us pathetic at map reading

We left the hotel going the wrong direction so we had to back track but actually got more lost leaving hotel for the 2nd time and rode deep into the countryside.

Enamored by the scenic beauty and animals, I rode obliviously 3 miles uphill the wrong direction

Cows confused perhaps witnessing their first "cashew American paparazzi"

We eventually got back on route and found the most gorgeous peaceful lake.

Lake Staffelsee

We needed some energy so we stopped at a beer garden and ordered drinks and chips (fries).  A lovely German waitress said the fryer was broken and suggested we try the cake (Germans LOVE cake & beer in the afternoon)

Best cake ever - part angel food and part cheesecake - Divine!

Laurie and wheat fields with Alps in the distance

Laurie cheering with excitement as we approach Murnau -location of our next hotel

Trip Advisor ranked Griesbrau Brewery #2 so we went to sample a beer.

Refreshing "Bruno brown beer"

We were greeted by a jovial Brewster named Wolfgang. 

Cindy had many stylish items in addition to her helmet like the snazzy reading glasses (below) and padded biker shorts.

Shots of grappa while trying to read the map for the next day's cycle route - not productive :)

We headed back to visit Wolfgang and he surprised us with whip cream topped beer shots!

The next morning we got lost again (not a shock at this point but still amusing since we had no agenda except to get to our hotel by dark).

Sporting my new padded bike skort (lined with hot pink spandex)

Cindy made a new friend 

Happy cows? 

Finally, riding in the correct direction, we stopped for caffeine.  Hearing a southerner try to communicate with the Germans was hilarious especially when Cindy needed her daily Diet Coke (as she said "Coke Laaat").

Cindy and her "Coke Light" and me sipping a cappuccino

Lake Kochelsee

We smell like Europeans

Laurie craving shnitzel & beer

We stopped at Benediktbeuern Abbey which also has a beer garden.  

Beer gardens & monks like peas & carrots

Feast of Schnitzel, Potato Salat, Saurkraut & Hefeweis

By the final day, we had mastered the German bike route signs!

Cycling path signs

We were totally exhausted when we arrived in the town of Bad Tolz.  

Kurpark

Bad Tolz - small village in Bavarian Alps

The next day, we headed home after riding about 200 kilometers.  It was a wonderful journey with incredibly fun, lovely, directionally challenged mates.  Looking forward to doing another Euro-Bike tour in the future!

(Next Blog- Laurie visit part 2 - FRANCE)