7/10 Jenbach, Austria

Spent the morning climbing to the achen pass, and crossing into austria.  Trail was 99% off road gravel, occasionally quite steep, and through nice pine forests.  The flats are behind us for now.  Other than Mark's repeated flat tire, and Jenn takng out Jon, we all did quite well.  Then most of us detoured to sylvenstein lake,  a big manmade lake. One more steep climb up through the woods, then back on the trail to the even nicer auchensee lake - a 10km stunning paved path along the shore.  Jason, Dena and Bruce were the only swimmers.  Then it was ALL downhill  and we eventually all reassembled at esterhammer hotel in Jenbach, a 16th century hotel with a pool, a beautiful garden restaurant - and a final 22% uphill grade to get here.  65km.

7/9 Tegernsee

When you do a long ride, you have to start at the beginning, so we backtracked a bit to get to the official start of the munich-venice ride (and to match up to mileage markers in our books - well, until you get lost).  When we got there, the rain started.  Lightly, and then into a pretty steady warm rain for an hour or so.  Lovely ride south along the isar river, then along a rail trail, and by fields of corn, wheat and lavender.

The path varied between pavement and hard-pack, and we were off road most of the day.  Generally we rode in two groups,  taking turns getting lost in the small towns we passed through, or when directions got complicated.  The Glasgows got a few extra turns (texts "lost", "do not follow').  In reitham, I swear we turned onto a cow path, and got first look at the mountains we'd climb tomorrow.  Big.
Best part of the day was arriving at Lake Tegernsee, and swimming with mountains all around.  Then back on the road for a bit to our hotel in Kreuth (and some more warm rain),  which had great views but #16/16 for food on tripadvisor, so we walked down the road for great fish dinner and German-french toast for dessert.   Signage on the ride is mostly good, and particularly in munich, biking is much more 'accepted' - bike lanes and lights everywhere,  drivers looking right before turning, tons of Bike racks holding barely locked bikes. The Germans do many things better than us "English people".  75km.

7/7-8 Munich

Met up in munich with glasgows, leiters, lowensteins, weinstocks to begin our "Very sporty" (according to customs guy) adventure.  Didn't even try to get everyone to do the same thing, or pick the same restaurants, but we all had a good start to the trip.  The S-Bahn and U-bahn train system worked flawlessly for transport until (and with!) we got our bikes.

We all walked around Marienplatz and the old/rebuilt city and had separate adventures at synagogue,  the bmw factory, the beer Gardens,  the 1972 Olympic park (including small memorial to Israeli athletes murdered there),  the running Sushi train restaurant, the death-defying river rapid ride,  cycling through the Englisher Garten and dachau.   Walking through the gates of dachau was hard, literally stopping me in my tracks as I walked through.   The memorial is well done, and very chilling.  The yard for roll call, the fence/guard tower and the crematorium were all too real.  And not very long ago.  Tomorrow, we head south. 43km.

7/4-6 max bar mitzvah in jerusalem

We are bookending this trip with two of the most bike unfriendly cities in the world.  We started in Jerusalem, which with the hills, heat and cobblestones, is my favorite walking city in the world, but not really bikeable  (except for our night bike tour - see below).  We are here to celebrate max becoming a bar mitzvah, which was great.  What a party it is at the Kotel on Thursday mornings - Lots of simchas, music, and happy families.  Also walked around the east side, outside the old city,  visiting sites I usually don't - mount of olives,  Rockefeller museum,  zedekiahs cave and up onto the temple mount.
Visited with Joel and Abby which was really nice.
The night bike tour through the old city was fun, highlighted/low-lighted by super crowded light show.  We were told we were being "chuspedik".  Great to have a tour guide to point out all the sites.  Now it's on to Munich and the ride. One last thought about travel to Israel - are there any other destinations where the flight there is part of the experience?   The guy davening in the airport and on the plane, the abundance of excited families, the pushing (and yelling) to get on the plane.  Love Israel.