1233 miles (and a half)...

Hallo! That's what they say here - so easy, but somehow I continuously say it the wrong way! I'm in Prien - a bit further east than Munich.

Since Vesoul (don't ever go there - unless you love car factories and industrial estates) I have enjoyed some really brilliant cycling. The pass at Ballon d'Alsace, where the snow stood at six foot by the sides of the road and the mountainous regions around Freiburg in south-west Germany were both highlights.

A word of advice though: when confronted with mountains don't just go east. I spent an entire morning carrying my bike and gear in four stages up to the top of a mountain, because the cycle path was thick with snow and ice, only to find that the route was circular. I arrived in Elzach, where I had begun at 8.30am, a couple of hours after lunch. It was such a beautiful mountain, however that it was easy to see the funny side.

There are plenty of opportunities to camp in the wild in Germany. The forest are not marked with intimidating 'Private Property' signs, as they are in France, and I have enjoyed several nights camping under trees. It is nice to fall asleep as the birds fall silent and to wake as they begin to sing. This does not extend to the cockerals - who will disturb your sleep at 3,4 and 5 o'clock in the morning!

Southern Germany was mercifully quite flat so I have made good progress and find myself at the foot of some staggeringly high-looking mountains. Perhaps Ausria tomorrow, but then again - looking south east toward sheer white cliffs reaching high into the sky - perhaps Austria the day after...