Munich...

We arrived at the outskirts of Munich in the late afternoon and took the ring road around to the south end of the city where the campground we would stay at is located.  Going through the city would have been a bad idea judging by the traffic lines we passed going the opposite  way.  The campground was pretty easy to find - it is a city campground totally set up to handle a high density crowd for Oktoberfest.  The security guard was telling us the camp maxes out at over 2500 people between the RV's and tent sites.  There are tour groups that rent blocks of space and have tents all set up for their guest to use - mostly from Australia.  Aussies definitely outnumber the Germans, Italians, Swiss, Brits and Canadians we have met.  So far we are the only Americans.  Everyone is pretty amazed when they see the bikes and we share our travel story of traveling around the world.  The security staff is all German and Swiss bikers so we know they will make sure our bikes and stuff is not screwed with - the biker brother thing that has been like a golden ticket all the way around.  

We met three Canadians last night who had flown to Munich and rented an RV and drove down to experience Oktoberfest.  Owen's wife gave him this trip for his 50th birthday and he brought two friends along.  We had a good time hanging out with them as well as several Aussies and Germans while enjoying a few liters of the local beer.  They had a giant beer trailer set up in the campground - so convenient!  The campground was only about a third full as the big arrival day is Friday.

Friday morning we took the subway into downtown Munich to pick up some supplies and see the sights.  The public transportation system is very easy to figure out and quite efficient - as you would expect in Germany.  We visited a BMW dealership and inquired on a couple of parts I needed - one was 550 EUR and the other was 1.61 EUR.  I left with the 1.61 bolt for the mirror that I broke in Mongolia - the brake rotors I need will have to wait as $710 USD was more than I wanted to spend.  I will deal with the constant rattle and hopefully find some used when I get back to the US.  We got back to a packed campground - later a huge party broke out.  We of course had to join the festivities.  Good times but couldn't go crazy as there is a little beer festival going on tomorrow that we plan to attend.  Word on the street is that we will have to get there early to get into one of the beer tents.  Oktoberfest here we come!

One of the dense tent cities blocked by an Aussie tour group. 

City center Munich.

Cool castle.

Beer.

Oktoberfest pre-party at the campground.