14-Nov-2025
Now that I'm in Donauwörth, the next part will be closing the gap between there and Gempfing, where I turned around during the Boar Petal. After that, I continue to the Furvaria in Marxheim.
Route map on bikerouter But first, some breakfast at the Airbnb. By the way, my fancy mouse broke. And it wasn't even a year old. So I had lots of phun working with my laptop's trackpad that morning.
And don't forget the ticket.
Here's the Airbnb that I'm staying at by the way.
And off we go. It's a pretty misty morning. But that's usual this close to the Donau. My father called this the "Donaunebel" (Danube Fog).
Oh yeah, and here's a problem that should become relavant later. On the way there, I'm taking the scenic route, so this doesn't concern me. But on the way back, the vact that the road is out between Marxheim and Graisbach should provide a... challenge.
Anyway, on we go. At times the sun even manages to pierce through the mists... to a degree.
I cross the Donau via a pedestrians' and bikers' bridge near Schäfstall ("Sheep Stable"). Interestingly, there's no fog right over the river, but it should come back soon enough.
On the other side, I proceed along the famous Ludwig-Wanner-Radweg.
And soon enough I reach the Lech, shortly before it flows into the Donau.
Approaching the city of Rain ("Regen"), I pass by the Südzuckerwerke ("South Sugar Works"). So this is where the ubiquitous brand of local sugar is made. Good to know! I'm starting to learn where products I buy in the supermarket come from. Like the Meggle works (which produce a variety of butters) which I came across on my trip to Rosenheim.
Next, I enter Rain, which has a really nice gold gatehouse that the road still leads through today.
And then it's mostly across quiet country roads for me as I approach the far edge of the High Hills in the distance, and with it my turning point from the Boar Petal.
And here we are! Gempfing! With that the first two petals are connected! And the first outer petal stands! I also meet a geocache hider while looking for a geocache near his home, and we have a nice little chat before I cycle on.
After that, I proceed north across the fields towards the Donau for a while.
And then I cross the bridge near Marxheim, where clearly a new bridge is presently under construction.
And then I'm in Marxheim, where the first Furvaria ever is held at the Land-Steakhaus Bürger ("Country Steakhouse Citizen"). You can tell that there's a furry con going on by
the hordes of fursuiters walking around the big, colorful inviting signs all the furry artwork on public display okay so no, you actually can't tell there's a furry con going on. It's all very shush-shush and kept out of the eyes of the public, which might be for the better because all the anti-wind-energy posters and billboards around the village mark this as a pretty backwards community that would probably be pretty anathema to furry.
Anyway, for the first part, we all stand around outside, waiting for first the registry and then the opening ceremony. But that still offers plenty of opportunity for furry interaction, even if it gets a bit cold over time.
And then, there's the opening ceremony, where Magnus Schöberin, the fictional MininsterpräsidentIN of Bavaria plans to build windmills on the moon ("Wind energy yes! But not in Bavaria!"), but the furries steal her rocket and plunder the moon's cheese supplies.
Most of the rest of the day plays out inside. And there isn't really much going on. A bit of fureoke (furry karaoke) in the background, I play a board game, draw up a little picture, have some dinner. But all in all, I sorta feel out of place here. Lots of furries around me are having fun. But I just fail to connect somehow. Oh well. That's what exploration is all about. Sometimes you end up in places you like, and sometimes no. I came here not knowing what to expect, so no expectations were disappointed. And I've learned something new, so that's alright, I guess.
So, I eventually just leave. I still got an adventure waiting for me after all.
That adventure is the way home, where I've decided to bypass the blocked road by cutting through the hills north of the Donau. Even though I know quite well that the gradient there is gonna be AAAAAAAAAA. And yet, the prospect of that is actually more exciting for me than staying at the Furvaria for longer. What does that say about me? I guess I'm just less of a "sitting around in loud crowded spaces" person and more of a "get out there and do something" person.
Did I mention it's dark outside by now? It's dark outside by now! And the paths that I take don't have lights. And are steep. Am I suffering? Yes. Am I having fun? Yes! More fun than at the Furvaria? Yes!!! Somehow, getting around the road closage, cresting the hills, navigating through the dark, and then making my way back downhill feels just so much more fulfilling and rewarding than sitting around at the Furvaria doing nothing. I wonder why. I also pass by what I think is a waste processing facility, which in the dark has an almost mysterious feel to it.
Eventually, I reach the lights of Graisbach ("Grass Stream"), and from there on I pretty much just follow the road back to the Airbnb.
So, where will I go from here? I'll give Furvaria one more chance tomorrow. But since the weather is still gonna be nice on Sunday, and turn awful on Monday, I think I'm gonna cut my stay at Furvaria one day short after that and cycle on to Ingolstadt on Sunday. That way, I'll also be able to complete the third part of the Outer Circle as part of this trip, and connect to the Rat Petal.
More to come! See you tomorrow! And until then, be of great cheer! =^,^=
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