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Euro Cycle Touring 2018Euro Cycle Touring 2018
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August 2018 - July 2021
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  • 28footprints
  • 17days
  • 3countries
  • 775kilometers
  • 109photos
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  • Nikki Baker
    Day1

    Milan

     August 28, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Warm weather welcomed me to the lovely city of Milano. Picked up my rental touring bike - which came with the worlds biggest heavy duty bike lock (and that was their lightweight one!). Successfully navigated back to my accomodation - but was very wary on the cobblestones and across the tram tracks - I felt like a tortoise compared to the locals who zip round at speed without a care in the world.

    So you’re meant to shop in Milan...so I did. Was it for designer fashion, elegant shoes or handbags? Unfortunately nothing quite so glamorous just some adaptors whilst checking out the flagship Apple store - and this one didn’t disappoint with a spectacular entrance worthy of its location in the mecca of fashion!    Read more

    Amanda Hing

    Great photos & blog... stay safe ❤️🌹

    9/1/18Reply
     
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  • Nikki Baker
    Day2

    Mooching in Milano

     August 29, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    A visit to the Duomo and the roof terraces was a great way to start the day. Inside - stunning marble floors and 52 soaring gothic columns and after 250 steps up to the high roof terraces - spectacular views of the 96 gargoyles, 135 spires and 224t statues.

    Fun Facts:
    • The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete
    • If the statues were placed on top of each other, they would reach a height of about 5,300 metres    Read more

     
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  • Nikki Baker
    Day2

    More Milano

     August 29, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Next stop was Galleria Vittorio Emanuele where all the high end designer brands are showcased under the fabulous glass domed roof. Too bad they didn’t get any business from me that day!

    I nearly missed the famous La Scala opera house. From the outside it is an unremarkable building. Perhaps on another visit I will get to see the sumptuous interior or even a performance.Read more

     
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  • Nikki Baker
    Day3

    Plans go astray

     August 30, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    A very frustrating afternoon trying to get consistent answers from Trenitalia regarding getting the bike on one of the train sectors the following day. ‘Booked out’ seemed to be their fall back position. After much angst I decided I’d wing it and see if I could sweet talk my bike on (it is Italy after all)....

    The downside would be that if I couldn’t get on (or got booted off the train) then I’d forfeit my prepaid accommodation in Rosenheim and have to find somewhere else for the night and reschedule a different place to meet up with the others.

    Also my arm/wrist continued be painful after my bike mishap 10 days before on a Sydney ride. Consultation with Dr Google suggests it could be badly sprained or I could have a fractured scaphoid in the wrist! Either way I needed to purchase a wrist support so that was an interesting exercise in visiting multiple chemists.

    Next issue was that being a flat bar bike the hand/wrist position aggravated my injury so I had to find a bike that stocked accessories and bar ends. A cycle across the city over the dreaded cobbles and tram tracks was so painful but found the Decathlon sports store and got the necessary bike bits.

    And to top it off, the dinner at the ristorante (which looked promising) was truly underwhelming. I mean how hard is it to make a decent pasta diviola in Italy!

    Happiness Factor: extremely low right now    Read more

    Amanda Hing

    Looks painful!

    9/1/18Reply

    I am worried about your wrist if it really is a possible scaphoid fracture. I asked a Dr friend of mine who said if it is still this sore after 2 weeks you might need to get it checked (xray and possibly MRI as the fracture may not show up) as scaphoid can develop avascular necrosis if not treated properly and part of the bone dies. It really doesn't like being broken!! I hope it is feeling much better and it is just a nasty sprain. Penny x

    9/4/18Reply
     
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  • Nikki Baker
    Day3

    Verona Vacillations

     August 30, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Travel day - or is it?

    Panniers are packed and I get to Milano Centrale for the first train to Verona. I know I have this covered with tickets for both me and the bike. Getting the bike up onto the train was trickier with my sore arm not being able to take any weight but managed it in the end. I hadn’t anticipated how crowded each carriage was, so to find a seat required squeezing past multiple people whilst carrying the panniers.

    To fill in the time before the next train I thought I’d take a ride around and find somewhere for lunch but that didn’t work out - I didn’t want to stray too far from the station and there wasn’t much on offer so station cafe it was.

    I got to the platform with plenty of time to plead my case about getting the bike on - but not a single official looking person in sight or checking tickets. The train pulls in and I’m looking for the carriages with bicycle signs - and I’m still nervous about winging it and can’t even see a bike spot and I’m still standing on the platform. What to do... what to do.... finally with about 2 minutes before departure goes I see a conductor so I rush up and explain my predicament. So I must have done something right as whilst he agrees all the spots are booked he is opening up the bike area, lifting my bike up, tells me he’ll get it down for me in Rosenheim and then directs me to my seat (and I don’t even pay for a bike ticket)!

    Happiness Factor: Creeping back to normal.    Read more

    Helen Briggs

    Is this a bike rack on the train?

    9/2/18Reply
    Helen Briggs

    Hope the arm is getting better. Enjoying that you can now enjoy the cycle. Enjoying our cycle in Bali

    9/2/18Reply
    Nikki Baker

    It’s a bike rack outside a local station. Just one of many.

    9/2/18Reply
    Jane Lomax

    How is the arm now?,

    9/6/18Reply
     
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  • Nikki Baker
    Day4

    Wet Wörgl

     August 31, 2018 in Austria ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    How hard can it be to meet up with your fellow cycle buddies as the designated time and place?...Challenging apparently. Chris alerts me that he has hopped on the train going in the wrong direction and Richard & Greg are going to be late due to a logistical hiccup.

    So with the weather worsening I decide to avoid the rain and hop on a train to our next destination of Wörgl rather than cycle. By the time we joined forces the rain had eased off so a gentle cruise around town was the cycling for the day.    Read more

    Looks cute - jane Lomax

    9/1/18Reply

    Who does the gardening? Little people? M

    9/3/18Reply

    My train was in the right direction, but didn't stop at Rosenheim - C

    9/27/18Reply
     
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  • Nikki Baker
    Day5

    Kitzbühel Kapers

     September 1, 2018 in Austria ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Arrived at Kitzbühel (by train) and explored this well known Austrian ski resort. They were having a weekend community festival with fire brigade rescues, market stalls and a wonderful oompah band. It’s a pretty little village even without snow.Read more

    Jane Lomax

    Is it cold then??

    9/6/18Reply
    Nikki Baker

    It was cool on the descent- and some intermittent rain

    9/7/18Reply

    Very pretty ....

    9/7/18Reply
     
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  • Nikki Baker
    Day6

    Wörgl to Innsbruck

     September 2, 2018 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Time to move on to Innsbruck. Weather was overcast with some rain predicted. We pretty much followed the Inn River. The cycle paths were generally sealed and in excellent condition.

    Cruised past lots of corn crops and through some pretty villages like Rattenberg (the smallest town in Austria, population 400).Read more

     
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  • Nikki Baker
    Day7

    Mayrhofen to Jenbach

     September 3, 2018 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Caught a couple of local trains up to Mayrhofen in the Zillertal Valley. This area in the Tirol is known for its ski resorts. It was a really pretty ride following the fast flowing Ziller river.

    Spotted people practicing rafting capsize techniques. They did have wetsuits on but the water was glacial.    Read more

     
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  • Nikki Baker
    Day7

    Innsbruck Efficiency

     September 3, 2018 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    So this afternoon I fronted up at the Accident Department of Innsbruck Hospital to get my hand/wrist checked out. I had psyched myself up for a very long wait but in very Austrian efficiency I was in seen, x-rayed, diagnosed, reported on, strapped up and back out the door in .... drum roll .... 70 minutes! Unbelievable !

    Anyway the excellent news is that nothing is broken or fractured, just very bad muscle bruising and wrist sprain.

    Just as well they spoke excellent English as I would have had a problem reading this report!

    Happiness Factor: High😊    Read more

    That's great news. If only we were always in and out that quickly from A&E. Px

    9/5/18Reply
    Jane Lomax

    Good to hear you are ok!!

    9/6/18Reply

    Gosh .. that was a quick visit. Very pleased to read all is well ❤️🌹Amanda

    9/7/18Reply
     
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