Day 2: back to start

March 26, 2022

Let's first have a look at our hotel, the Magicians Cabinet. It looks to have been designed with much loving care. A true aficionado of the occult arts must have been at work here with references to the Tarot, Harry Potter, sleight of hand and other kinds of hocus pocus.

The Magician watched over us while we slept.

In the breakfast room, a faucet with running water suspended in mid-air - magic!

A wonky bookcase that doesn't fall over - I hope.

Look up at the ceiling - ¡pǝɯnsuoɔ ǝq oʇ ƃuᴉʇᴉɐʍ lɐǝɯ llnɟ ∀

Lamps off kilter, set of Tarot cards in frames, flames around the doors

The window is upside down and potted plants are hanging from the window sill.

An inch is not an inch using this ruler.

Get a bus to Hogwarts by running into the tree.

I did it - I pulled Janos out of the black hat! I think I shrank him, too.

The witch who didn't watch where she was going - let that be a lesson!

The breakfast itself wasn't weird at all, actually it was very good with a fine array of jams, cheese, cold meats, muesli and yoghurt. There was even a platter with carrot sticks, bell pepper and melon slices! Got my vitamins!

We sailed out of town and as usual didn't take the trouble of looking for a market to buy fixings for sandwiches. We are usually eager to get started and think we will find something later. That isn't always the case and today it wasn't, either.

There is still a haze over the Alps, but the weather is splendid.

What a start to the day - a beautiful bicycle path across the meadows

No leaves on the trees yet, but Easter eggs are out.

Another small chapel, bench and tree for shade in the summer - so common in rural Bavaria

I think these are awards of some kind on the barn door. I'm sorry I didn't look more closely to see what is written on them, something about weight.

Originally the Benediktbeurn Monastery was to be the destination of our tour. The monastery has hotel rooms and I was looking forward to staying in the historic setting. Unfortunately, there were no vacancies.

Here a tidbit of information about the monastery from the Internet:

"According to the latest findings, the monastery was founded around the year 725 by Charles Martell, who set up the initially purely secular station Buron to control the mountain passes to the south. In 739, St. Boniface consecrated the church. Benediktbeuern is thus considered the oldest monastery in Upper Bavaria. Even before the year 800, Charlemagne mediated the arm relic of St. Benedict, whereupon the name of the monastery was changed to "Benedictoburanum", which means "house or monastery dedicated St. Benedict". "

Arm relic of St. Benedict? More hocus pocus.

Approaching the outer walls of Benediktbeurn Monastery

Spring and the church towers in the background

Over the centuries the monastery was destroyed and rebuilt several times.
The current baroque form of the monastery complex was created between 1669 and 1679, and starting in 1672 the monastery church of St. Benedict was rebuilt.

The monastery church of St. Benedict in the architectural style of the Italian early Baroque

After leaving Benediktbeurn our route takes us to the Loisach-Kochelsee moor landscape, a complex of low and raised bog areas.

The 3600 hectares of low moor landscape on the Loisach is under nature protection.

Information about the birds that breed here.

We weren't the only ones on these paths on this sunny Saturday. We saw many cyclists and walkers, young and old and families out for the day.

In the background a Scottish Highlander, a robust breed of cattle that spends the winter outdoors.

A bicycle ramp takes you up to the bridge and over to the other side of the river.

Just lots of pictures now, no captions.

Finally we reach Lake Starnberg. This is almost home territory for us. The lake is lovely but there are going to be too many people out on the shared bike and walking path today. I expected this stretch along the lake was going to be a slog and it was.

I didn't see anyone swimming but there were a few waders.

Lunch stop with view to the lake. We still are showing our vaccination certificates and ID, and must wear masks until we are seated. That will stop next week I believe.

Not my bike, but nicely placed for a photo

Janos's cockpit - video in the process, and the pompom on his lapel is a mic windscreen.

We rode in and out of clouds of little flies.

One of the attractions along the lake is the Hungarian Gate, decorated with colorful carvings which a Hungarian artist built at the end of the 19th century.

The gate to one of the many lavish villas on this premium real estate along the lake.

I didn't stop for any more pictures on the last 15 km of our ride. Not only did I have enough pictures already, but I was tired and eager to get off my bike.

It was a fantastic two-day outing in many ways: the weather was perfect, we discovered new paths and explored places that we didn't know, and I again felt fit enough to tour.

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Today's ride: 60 km (37 miles)
Total: 108 km (67 miles)

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Comment on this entry	Comment	6

Scott AndersonGreat to see you out on tour again! And worth it just to see the Magician’s Cabinet.
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2 years ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesBad Heilbrunn is on our route for the upcoming trip!
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2 years ago

Gregory GarceauWhat a wonderfully quirky inn! Sure, Germany has a multitude of attractions, but I'd be willing to tour there just to stay at the Magicians Cabinet.

I enjoyed the rest of your tour too, of course, and I'm glad you could do it after your bout with Covid.
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2 years ago

Suzanne GibsonTo Steve Miller/GrampiesI think you will really like the countryside here. Looking forward to seeing your route in more detail.
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2 years ago

Rachael AndersonGlad the mini tour went well!
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2 years ago

Karen PoretTo Scott AndersonAgreed!
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1 year ago