A bit cold through the lake district

Another early start this morning aiming to reach Milan before sunset, we headed off from the lake district Gmunden towards Salzburg, B-roads again but brilliant to ride, cold as any heading through the mountain and getting caught up in quite heavy mist. Temperatures were at 14.5 degrees but then dropped to as low as 9.5 deg C. Eventually we gave in to temptation and stopped off at McCafe for a 'hearty breakfast'.

Checking the GPS, it looked as if getting road tax vignettes to travel on the Autobahn was our best option to get through the rest of Austria into Italy. This was definitely a good decision as it saved us 600km and 6hrs of riding through a very cold snow capped Alps. The Autobahn weaved and out of Germany towards Innesbrook where it basically ends and becomes more of a mountain pass, a brilliant road with long winding bends climbing to its peak at about 1300m above sea level just before reaching the Italian border. The scenery is another story, all the way through Austria; everything seems to be picture perfect. Huge houses, massive properties and everything in its place. Northern Italy thus far has managed to surpass this by just enhancing the natural beauty in the mountain when crossing the border and headed up one of the nicest passes I have been on, which snaked up around the mountain to reach its peak at 2223m above sea and just 7 deg C. What a high point.

 Well you know what comes after a high. Our first experiences with Italians were not impressive, the ones we met were quite abrupt and rude and everything was too much trouble, Lets hope this improves.