North-east of Munich, the land flattens into a wide plain of fields, drainage ditches and scattered villages. This is the Erdinger Moos, once a vast marsh, drained over the past two centuries and now home to farms, gravel pits and, a few kilometres away, Munich's international airport. Moosinning is one of the villages on its edge, quiet and practical, with a church, a few farms and modern housing.
The riding here is not dramatic, but it has a certain calm charm. Roads run straight between fields of maize and wheat, then curve gently through villages and over small streams. The Isar flows to the north, with riverside woods and gravel banks. On a clear day, the Alps appear as a pale blue line on the southern horizon, a promise of what is to come. Watch for agricultural traffic, especially in harvest season, and for strong crosswinds on the open plain.
Erding, the nearest town, is worth a stop. Its old centre has a pretty square and a tall city tower, and it is home to a famous wheat beer brewery, Erdinger, whose name you have probably seen on bottles worldwide. Nearby, the huge Therme Erding thermal spa draws visitors from all over Bavaria. If you are heading towards the German Alpine Road, though, you will probably want to keep moving south.
For fuel, Erding and the larger villages along the main roads have stations, and bakeries offer pretzels and coffee. The airport area also has services but can be busy. Moosinning is a good place to take a short break, check the route and enjoy the open landscape before turning towards the mountains, where the roads become much more interesting.