Some days my body is so fatigued the only thing that will get me going is a cup of coffee and an entire chocolate bar. I feel so worn out from just existing that my body feels like it has aged decades overnight (not to say there aren’t some extremely spry elderly women!) And some days my body feels good, light, and full of energy.
Two days after my bike ride to Linderhof I had a surge of energy and ran with it, errr biked with it.
I woke up the morning of this ride and pulled open my map. I looked for something close enough to bike to, but far enough that I hadn’t been yet. I found a wetland area I never realized existed called Murnauer Moos and chose this as my destination.
I packed my bag, and set off for an adventure.
The first part of this ride is one I have done many times, and it has become almost meditative for me. Biking as a whole is often something I do when I need to shut my brain off, or when I need to process something. I can easily get on my bike and zone out for hours.
This is sort of what happened on this day.
The only things that brought me back to reality were my stomach pangs, and my need for direction after I left the area I was familiar with. My fuel of choice lately when biking or hiking longer distances has been potatoes, chicken breasts, apples, and hardboiled eggs. I’m amazed at the difference in energy I have when I keep it simple.
As I found my way onto the above photographed road I was in awe of my surroundings. I’ve lived in Bavaria for 16 months, yet I continue to find new nooks and crannies that make me feel like I just moved here. I could have ridden a never-ending stretch of this road for hours.
The Murnauer Moos ended up being a bit further than I expected, but I had all day and didn’t sweat it (didn’t figuratively sweat it, I was most definitely literally sweating it.) I eventually found the wetland trails, and the path was flat and windy with endless mountain views. I was a bit surprised how many other humans I saw out and about on the wetland trails, but it was nice.
After about 30 minutes on this path, I came to a sign pointing in multiple different directions. On the sign was a distance and estimated time of arrival for the town of Murnau, as well as a nearby lake called Staffelsee. Before deciding on the Murnauer Moos, I thought about biking to Murnau/Staffelsee, but worried it would be too far.
Sometimes I worry about going too far from home and exhausting myself. I often have more energy than I give myself credit for, but I also fear overexerting myself because this often leads to an immune flare up. I tend to get so wrapped up in my ride, and I can easily get hours away from home, which means I’ll have to have energy to get back.
I used to hike on empty all the time because I didn’t think I needed to eat food to refuel (what a concept.) I’ve since learned to fuel as I go, but I still worry at times I will crash and then be stuck too far from home. I realize I’m dramatic, but these are the things I think about. These are the things I HAVE to think about.
I get a little less anxious when the world is functioning normally, but with Covid I worry about trains running normally, and the language barrier always makes things a bit awkward. Alas, living my life in fear will get me no where, and when I saw that I was only about 40 minutes from the lake I decided to keep going.
Just around the corner from this church was a trail that ended up being a 3 mile round trip walk to the lake. I was feeling stubborn and my mind needed an official end destination for the day, so the lake ended up being the destination. Despite my aforementioned anxiety about getting too far, I also like to push the limits of my ability because it makes me feel in control of my autoimmune disease.
Not the smartest, but I’m human what can I say.
I made it to the lake, and I have to admit the area I walked to was a bit anticlimactic. I could have done without this extra trek, but I was proud of the distance I covered. I was anxious when it came time to turn around, but I ended up surprising myself with the energy I still had. This tends to be the case, I self doubt far too often.
I rode 45 miles round trip, which is the longest bike ride I’ve done thus far. It’s no Seattle to Portland (which I would love to do sometime), but it’s a start.
1hr 57min is a joke. It took me three hours to get to the bench.
If this ride taught me anything, aside from how beautiful Bavaria is, it’s that I am my own worst critic. I am capable of more than I give myself credit for, and while I do try to honor my body and its needs, sometimes pushing the limits is necessary for mental peace. This adventure came with a cost, and I was one with my bed the following day, but in the end it was worth it.
This is what life with an autoimmune disease is like, we must carefully choose activities, foods, and stressors. If we make a choice we know will result in discomfort we have to accept this and weigh whether the action is worth the pain. I’m still learning to navigate the balance of choosing activities I know will cause me to be out of commission for a bit, but at the end of the day I would rather have one epic day with two down days, than no epic days at all.
Q: Would you rather go a distance you know you can complete round trip, or push your limits and go further than you think you’re capable of? I often find I am always capable…even if it hurts.
Blissfulbritt 
32 thoughts on “Staffelsee Spin”
capejohn
I’m wondering if we were on that same road in Bavaria that you highlighted in this post.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1mr&page_id=64228&v=5t
Brittany
I don’t recognize any of your photos, but oh my goodness I want to find that path you rode!
capejohn
The paths are Krimmll, Austria.
Brittany
Thank you!
Pam
What an Awesome ride…. You know your limits far better than you allow yourself to recognize …. Right now you are willing to go and push further with that knowledge of recovery, in thirty years from now you will know that explanation of epic day will change, when you get older everything shrinks…. Your ability to do things, how far you can go and how long, sometimes an epic day is simply the fact that you made it thru the day….Enjoy the long road the surmounting your goals…. It will change, and in knowing that Ones perception of what brings them Joy also changed….To see a sunrise , smell a flower , enjoy a meal , be with friends ….that can be an Epic day😊❤️
Balance , appreciation and gratitude….,
It’s All Good
Thanks for the post, pictures and You😊
Brittany
Thank you for your lovely words, as always. ❤️
rootchopper
I hate BONKING! That’s what happens when your body runs out of fuel while riding. Runners call it “hitting the wall” or “the bear on your back”. I feel drowsy and listless. Then my mood goes to hell. Better to eat while riding. As for the meditative aspect, I can’t tell you how calm I am when I finish a bike tour. I call it afterglow. It lasts for weeks, too.
Glad to see you are expanding your expectations. It takes a long time to build up the strength and resilience needed for long bike rides even without the health issues you have. The first time I ran 20 miles (I was 28 years old) it totally destroyed me. I did it again a week later and had no trouble at all. When you feel recovered try another long one.
Brittany
I once said I’d like to run a full marathon. Those words are far behind me and I can’t imagine that now. I commend you for running 20 miles, back to back!
Biking just has a way about it, but you already know that!
rootchopper
Not exactly back to back. They were on consecutive Fridays
Brittany
That’s back to back in my book! Haha.
Sheree
It’s good to do both Brittany
Brittany
You are right!
thechrisdotcom
I like to push myself if the motivation is there. If it’s not, at least getting out and getting my first goal done is enough.
I rode a trail before and did 22 miles. This last time I rode it I only did 14. I know it’s only 8 miles less but I’ve been out of it for so long. I wanted to match my goal from last time but why push it if my body was tired. The more I get out, the more I’ll push cuz I’ll be ready.
Always good reads and I love your pictures. Always jealous. Stay safe.
Brittany
Sometimes I have to remind myself I need to work up to things, especially if I’ve been lazy for too long. 🤪
Papa
Thank you again Brit! I enjoy your text and photos. Stay well and be careful.
Papa
Brittany
Love, love, love you!
Amy
Heyyyyyyyyy that lake and church look familiar!! 😉😉 I’ve done both… Pushed myself way farther than I thought I could (especially on empty with almost no food — you’re not alone there! 😜) and played it safe, just to make sure I could get back safely, especially in an unfamiliar place or without a phone / someone to pick me up. I don’t like being stranded, that’s for sure! 🙈 Your photos always amaze me! Everything is SO green and beautiful there!! 💚
Brittany
I am amazed everyday at the beauty of this place! Makes snapping shots so much easier. 🤪
windowwanderlust
Such beautiful photos – so clear without a person in sight. This is when you discover some true hidden gems! Well done for pushing yourself – can’t wait to get back out for a long cycle soon too. Take care!
Brittany
Having long stretches of path to myself was wonderful.
bigwidewildworld
You should give the Donauradweg a shot if you haven’t already, it’s fantastic!
Brittany
I’ve only walked on a very small part of this path, but I’d love to bike as much of it as possible. Hell, I might even go all the way to Budapest! 🤪
Lizbeth
Amazing photographs. Made me want to be there 🙂
Brittany
Thank you, they make me want to go back! 🙂
vinneve
Beautiful and nice to bike there!
Brittany
It was!
Alison
It all sounds very energetic and well done to you for pushing yourself ..makes me feel very lazy
Gorgeous photos
Brittany
The free time I currently have has definitely made these kind of bike rides easier. 🙂
leightontravels
Glorious photos! How lucky you are to have such a lovely area to explore right on your doorstep. We are currently based in the tropical and dusty Siem Reap (which we love), but someday it would be nice to find a little fairy tale town/village tucked away somewhere in Swiss or German mountains and live there for a while. A dream. Stay safe!
Brittany
Thank you. Yes, you must live in one of these gingerbread villages as some point!
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