Roadtrip Around Germany – Part 6 (A) (D) From Lake Chiemsee to Stubaital Valley

I See the Sea

Saturday, 08.08.2015

Today we want to go to the ocean, more precisely to the Bavarian Ocean. The colloquial expression Bavarian Ocean stands for Lake Chiemsee, third larges lake in Germany and the largest Bavarian lake at 79.9km². The weatherforecast is perfect, sunshine and 30°C, and so we head for the Übersee railway station right after getting up in the morning.

Übersee

Übersee (Oversees) in Bavaria

A modern, air-conditioned train takes us two stops to Prien at Lake Chiemsee. The station lies some distance away from the lake itself, but luckily there is an old Chiemsee-Bahn steam train ready for departure waiting in the station. We quickly purchase a combined day rover ticket for the train and the boats on Lake Chiemsee and board the train directly afterwards.

Departure of the green Chiemsee-Bahn train

Departure of the green Chiemsee-Bahn train

A single journey on the 1.9 kilometres long railway line, dating from 1887, takes roughly ten minutes and ends directly at the lake itself.

Chiemsee-Bahn steam locomotive

Chiemsee-Bahn steam locomotive

The station lies directly at Lake Chiemsee, only seperated by a promenade from the pier. Since we have purchased a day rover ticket we enter the next best boat which takes us to Herreninsel Island.

Lake Chiemsee

Lake Chiemsee

There are two major islands in Lake Chiemsee. The biggest one is called Herreninsel (Men’s Island) and features a castle, on the smaller one called Fraueninsel (Lady’s Island) there is a monastery.

Boat on Lake Chiemsee, Fraueninsel and monastery tower in the background

Boat on Lake Chiemsee, Fraueninsel and monastery tower in the background

To get to Herrenchiemsee Castle it is either a 15 minutes walk or you can pay for a horse-drawn carriage to take you there. We save our money and afford ourselves an ice-cream in the castle gardens instead.

Herrenchiemsee Castle

Herrenchiemsee Castle

The garden is really well looked after and full of fantastic fountains. 🙂

Fountain in the castle gardens

Fountain in the castle gardens

Unfortunately the next boat to Fraueninsel is already full so we are not able to get on board. Now we have to wait for a fair half an hour under the burning sun. Time enough to wonder why seagulls don’t get a sunburn?

Does not get a sunburn: Seagull

Does not get a sunburn: Seagull

The boat to Fraueninsel takes a fair ten minutes. From the boat we already spy a beer garden, declaring it our most important destination on the island.

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Fraueninsel

At Fraueninsel

At Fraueninsel

We had imagend the beer garden somehow different...

We had imagend the “beer garden” somehow different…

We stroll across the small island and grant ourselves a Radler (shandy) at the beer garden before taking up on the last leg of the round trip. Via Gstadt and Herreninsel the boat takes us back to Prien, where again the train back to the railway station is already waiting.

Gstadt as seen from Lake Chiemsee

Gstadt as seen from Lake Chiemsee

For tonight the owner of the camperstop had invited us for a barbecue. There are heaps of meat and many delicious self-made salads.

Back at the camperstop

Back at the camperstop

Really fed up we head back to bed late in the evening but become aware that we got a new roommate. A little, young and cuuuuuuuute cat has made herself comfortable inside the Didimobile. ♥

Isn't she cuuuuuute. :D

Isn’t she cuuuuuute. 😀

The Higher The Splash: Waterfall

Sunday, 09.08.2015

Today we have to say goodbye to this great camperstop, because tomorrow we want to watch the DFB-cup game FC Sankt Pauli versus Borussia Mönchengladbach  in proper style at a St.Pauli-pub in Munich.

Since Munich is not that far away from Übersee we chose a route along Krimml Waterfalls, Austria’s highest – and probably wettest – waterfall.

Impressive even from the distance: Krimml Waterfalls

Impressive even from the distance: Krimml Waterfalls

As the waterfall is the only attraction in this area the parking lot is quite expensive and the waterfall very well attended, but mainly by Arabian tourists. Somehow much more enjoyable then the everlasting bustling hoards of Japanese tourists.

With a big cloud of spray Kimml Waterfall plunges into the depth

With a big cloud of spray Kimml Waterfall plunges into the depth

The closer you get to the waterfall, the cooler and especially wetter it becomes. Unfortunately today’s weather is rather cloudy and by far not as warm as it has been during the last days, otherwise we probably might have placed our sunbeds into the spray.

Didi Wöhrmann in front of the Kimml Waterfall

Didi Wöhrmann in front of the Kimml Waterfall

Along a small footpath we could have walked all the way up to the upper rim of the waterfall, but since the weather is not really inviting and the parking fees would become too expensive we only climb up to the Krimml Waterfall’s first level.

View from the first level of the waterfall

View from the first level of the waterfall

During our continued trip over Gelos Pass the weather becomes better immediately, the drizzling clouds give way to the sun.

A last view of Krimml Waterfalls as seen from Gerlos Pass mountain road.

A last view of Krimml Waterfalls as seen from Gerlos Pass mountain road.

On the way to Ziller Valley we have some animal company. SOmehow the Didimobile seems to magically attract four-legged friends.

Moo

Moo!

Having arrived at Ziller Valley we actually planned on spending the night at a campsite at Lake Achensee near Jenbach, but unfortunately all their pitches are occupied. So still full of hope we continue to Lenggries, but the campsite there is also completely occupied. Soon it’s going to become dark, so we decide to head for Garmisch-Partenkirchen and spend the night at the known camperstop next to the Wank Ropeway. At Garmisch we have a budget dinner at Subway and a budget night for the Didimobile at eight Euros.

St.Pauli goes Munich

Monday, 10.08.2015

This morning we’re heading straight to Munich. Around noon we arrive at the quite narrow and run-down campsite in Obermenzig, park the Didimobile and take the public bus into the Bavarian capital.

Narrow campsite in Munich

Narrow campsite in Munich

Olympic Stadium, Munich

Olympic Stadium, Munich

On the way into town we come along the Munich Olympic Stadium and the ice rink and have to sneek around them for a while.

Einen Besuch des Olympiastadions und der Eishalle können wir uns nicht entgehen lassen, liegen beide Einrichtungen doch auf dem Weg in die Stadt.

Tradition vs. commerce: Didi Wöhrmann and Josha Riedel

Tradition vs. commerce

We stroll a bit through the city centre (where we have already been before), unsuccessfully looking out for any points of interest and proceed to Balan, a culty Sankt Pauli-pub in time. The Magical FC predictably loses 1:4, but who need a cup at all if you had to buy a display for it beforehand? 😉

Big Things, Steep Mountains

Tuesday, 11.08.2015

Only four days until the VW bus convention, and I desperatly want to drive over Maniva Pass. So off we go towards the South, and since yesterday’s football match could not take down our mood we want to go to one of Europe’s longest tobbogan coasters in Stubaital Valley today.

So let’s get out of the metropolis and right into the Bavarian countryside. Literally, because hardly any Didimobile tour passes by without having been at some of the most outrageous place names.

Großdingharting - Bigthinghart(h)ing

Großdingharting – Bigthinghart(h)ing

Well, we do not want to exaggerate - Smallthinghart(h)ing

Well, we do not want to exaggerate – Smallthinghart(h)ing 😉

After having recovered from those restricted village names, the Didimobile is followed by the VW-bus-police for some time. At least it looks like one. A true “Bullizei”. (The German name for a VW T25 is “Bulli”, and the word for “police” is “Polizei”. Both words compared make for the fantasy word “Bullizei”)

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Halt, Bullizei 😉

Along the Vorderriß-Wallgau-Tollroad we pass over one of the very few covered bridges still existing in Germany onwards to Mittenwald and Seefeld.

Covered bridge on Vorderriß-Wallgau-Tollroad

Covered bridge on Vorderriß-Wallgau-Tollroad

After Seefeld the steep decline down towards the Inn valley near Innsbruck via the infamous Zirler Berg beginns. This more than two kilometres long stretch of road is an important north to south link, featuring a continuous gradient of 16% (1 in 6), a real trial for any brakes.

Beginn of Zirler Berg

Beginn of Zirler Berg

Thus especialy the downhill drive from Zirler Berg offers great panoramic views into the Inn valley and all the way to Innsbruck. Those who only look out of the side windows may feel like being on an aeroplane during the landing approach to Innsbruck airport.

1 in 6 grade towards Innsbruck

1 in 6 grade towards Innsbruck

At Innsbruck the Didimobile is once again refuelled. In Austria Diesel prices are about ten cents cheaper than in Germany.
Afterwards we cross the city of Innsbruck, pass the Bergisel Ski Jump onto the old Brenner Pass road. From there you have fantastic views of the Brenner motorway with its impressive Europa Bridge. Since Austria charges a toll for the usage of their motorways we rather stay on the country roads and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Europa Bridge, Innsbruck

Europa Bridge, Innsbruck

In the early afternoon we reach Mieders in Stubaital Valley. Here at Serles Mountain lies the 2.8 kilometres long tobbogan coaster on which we enjoy two trips.

In the evening we continue further down into Stubaital Valley and find a small campsite directly in the town centre of Neustift.

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Neustift im Stubaital

After a brief crash course on how to distinguish between a waching machine and a tumble dryer we wash a machine full of clothes and fetch some food for an evening barbeque at the supermarket next door.

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Minions. ♥

To our amazement the barbeque worked completely without any particulate matter, and the Minions on the kitchen roll made this again a perfect day.

Evening at Neustift

Evening at Neustift

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