Isar Spring and into Innsbruck

We sleep well and enjoy a good breakfast while planning the day. Komoot shows that the Isar spring is only 13 km and 200 meters of elevation from our hotel. Since we only have 40 km planned (remember the booking chaos?), we decide to go for it – especially because we can leave the luggage and pick it up on the way back.

Without panniers, the bikes finally feel agile again. And the detour is incredible. Truly beautiful, almost untouched nature. It feels like riding through the wilderness of Red Dead Redemption – even though the cows remind us it’s still a cultural landscape.

Back at the hotel, we load the bikes and start the main route. It’s tougher than expected, and splitting the stage turns out to be a very good idea.

After some steady climbing through the forest, we hope for a smooth asphalt descent into the Inn valley. Instead, we get the hardest section of the entire trip so far: 600 meters down on loose, coarse gravel. Brakes glowing, wheels skidding – mentally and physically exhausting. I’m not convinced this should be a bike path.

Down by the Inn things improve dramatically. We stock up at an M-Preis in Zirl – a place we also stopped at last year with the camper – and then ride a perfectly built bike path alongside the highway into Innsbruck.

Iller, Isar, Inn – the three “I” rivers are complete.

Then the final sting: the last 5 km climb from Innsbruck to Igls, 300 meters up. Brutally steep. We stop from parking bay to parking bay to get our heart rates down. I have no idea how D does this without a motor.

We arrive completely spent. Shower, food from the Spar, a quick attempt at the hotel pool (way too cold), then a short sauna session.

In the room, we really hope the next days will be easier.