European tour day 8

Day 8

Today was another beautiful and hot day, during the day the temperature would go up into the thirties, about 32/33.

 

The trip today would see us ride from Landeck to Imst in Austria although in theory it’s a ride of only about twelve miles, the trip would be approximately 150 miles.  This was the first ride Ian and I had done in Austria the first time we were here, well the first part was.  I had then added a new part that we had not ridden at all.  Then the last part was the last part of the ride would once again duplicate the last part of that first day’s ride that Ian and I had done.

 

The road would see us leaving Landeck heading west on the 171, joining the 188 heading south. This is a really nice road and follows a river for most of its length. Along the way you have to pay to enter a National Park, but its worth the money. As you drive up the mountain there are small ice blue lakes where people fish for trout and picnic. The beautiful blue lakes are framed by snow-capped mountains. At the top of the mountain we arrive at the centre next to Lake Silvretta-Stausee. The next part of the ride is awesome as you leave the top valley and drop down the side of the mountain to the valley below. The road zigzags and the views are breath taking.

 

We continue on the 188 until Bludenz where we temporarily join the 190 the 193. This is another beautiful road and the lower meadows are filled with yellow wild flowers. On one of the climbs there is nowhere for the road to go, so they have had to build the switch back out of the side of the mountain on a bridge, we get to a small restaurant and decide to stop for a drink and a bite to eat.

 

We stay on the 193 until it meets the 200 where we turn right heading south east. At the end of the 200 we turn right onto the 198 still heading east at Klimm we take a sharp right onto the L266. We had found this little back road by accident, it winds its way up through the mountain forest until you get above the tree line. At the top before you start to head back down the road has loose rock, shale both side then as you descend the road is cut into the side of the mountain where the quick turns can catch you out if you’re not paying full attention. As the road drops the forest reappears and we are soon in the village of Imst.

 

 

 

It’s late afternoon, the day hasn’t been too long. The hotel in Imst was a lovely big old type hotel and has a garage where we can store the bike safely and the carpark for the cars. As we enter the hotel is decorated with stuffed animals. The food was good and they made us feel at home. The people very friendly and we could walk in the gardens and see the pets. It was a lovely end to a lovely day.