Bingen to Mutters in Austria - Day 5

Well despite our room being disappointing the breakfast, and breakfast room, made up for it. Lots of lovely options in a beautiful sunny room overlooking the river. 

NH Hotel Bingen

The Mouse Tower from the hotel

Point to note - there is a huge, and I mean huge, statute overlooking the river -the Niederwalddenkmalis a monument built in the 1870/80s to commemorate the Unification of Germany and the foundation of the German Empire after the end of the Franco-Prussian War. Built by Kaiser Wilhelm I (William I) and thetotal cost of the work is estimated at one million gold marks. The monument was inaugurated on September 28, 1883. The 38 m tall monument represents the union of all Germans.

Change of plan today. As much as we have enjoyed the Rhine the hunt for its source takes us too far out of our route to the Dolomites and the east coast of Italy. So top up and on the motorway and head for Austria is the new plan. We left Bingen at 9. Sped along the motorway, crossed the Rhine at Hockenheim for the last time this trip probably. 

A really nasty lorry crash/fire at the Rhine bridge caused miles of tailback on the other side. However we had our own traffic problems with 2 diversions off the motorway. The first worked out fine though as we stopped in a forest for a leg stretch, although dropping acorns gave us a fright!  

We drove on and stoped for lunch at a little rest stop and had our picnic lunch. Left again around 2.30 and headed for our night stop, booked at lunch. Hotel Gasthof Stefansbrucke at Mutters just south of Innsbruck. We stopped briefly at a service station to get a motorway pass but we were advised of traffic issues by the GPS so we came in to Austria on a fantastic road through the mountains with the top down, part of it called the Fernpass. There were some spectacular mountain views but we did sympathise with the locals who were complaining about huge traffic problems into Austria. There is no motorway access from Germany at this point so all the pile of motorway traffic has to go through small villages.

A random set of mountain views! 

This was a high suspended walk - no way José!

Arrived at the hotel  after 5 and checked and a glass in hand with a view - 26 degs. Despite all the motorways it was 7 hours driving with at least 5.5 on motorways

I asked about food and was told there were no dinner options without a drive so we decide to  stay put, drink and eat snacks! However food later appeared (lost in translation ?) which we ordered and enjoyed! Early bed, complete with a thunder and lightening display! 

Daily drive 330 miles

Total trip 1108 miles