day 4: Maurach to Natterer See 57kms 🚴‍♀️

Day 4: Maurach 🇦🇹to Natterer See🇦🇹 57kms 🚴‍♀️ (via Innsbruck)

What a joy to poke my head out of the tent and see the Alps right there! I woke feeling surprisingly ok with just a bit of general fatigue #winning 

I packed up and said goodbye to my Ukranian neighbours and set off for the day.  A few KMs down the road was the famous, ridiculously steep downhill.  The compacted gravel cycle path runs close to the steep railway.  Just as I was about to head down a young couple with panniers appeared very red faced.  I high fived them and we chatted.  Much of the 5km climb is 16-18%!  They were Slovenian and seemed to have copied with it well though.
Down I went into the forest for an exhilarating downhill!  After about 4kms the forest ended and rolling greet farmland with Alps in the background 🥰
The next 30+ KMs followed the river through some industrial sections and then market gardens.  I stopped for a picnic lunch in a field with Alps views and not long after I hear my name being called out and Irini and hubby waved as they went by.  That was a warm fuzzy feeling 😊. Lots of chats from passerbys as I had my Aussie flag jersey on today.

Innsbruck is a postcard town.  Pretty cobbled streets with painted buildings, one famous one with a gold roof! and tourists milling everywhere.  I felt this was the perfect spot to indulge in a slice of Apful Strudel 10/10! 
I located a camping shop and bought the correct gas cannister and then set off for the 13km ride to the campground via the famous Olympic ski jump. Well, that ski jump can be seen from miles around as it's at the top of a mountain 😂😂. Some huffing and puffing in the 27 degree heat saw me nearly ride the whole way and then have to push some too.
My route then continued further up the mountain and over the other side  for a bit to another mountain range through quaint steep villages and eventually arriving at this magnificent award winning outdoor adventure campground.  Surrounded by hikes, mountain bike trails and water activities on their lake.
The campground was full but the lovely lady squeezed me in next to the broken sauna 😂 very grateful! 
I had parked my bike and sat down to remove my shoes and a sweet German woman came and said she had just finished making dinner and would I like to join them!!  How wonderful 😊. A quick run to wash my face and spent the next hour sharing adventure stories with them and their little boy over a paneer curry and rice.  They took 10 weeks to cross the Alps hiking 5 years ago and looking to take a year off next year for adventure with their son! My items are charging in their motorhome 🥰
After setting up my tent, a late swim in the lake called.  It was refreshing ✅
I have a massive day to ride tomorrow and definitely wondering if i can do it, but, I'll give it a red hot go! 
What a blessed day 🥰

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