Let’s go cycling

Passau to Vienna- it’s a well worn cycle path and we met many souls who’d arrived by plane, train or bus to complete this section of the Danube. Some who we saw every day as we leap frogged our way downstream.

I don’t know why I thought it may be blue…but it isn’t! Maybe it became a little bluer the closer we got to Vienna, but I reckon Strauss would be a little disappointed. Was it blue once? Maybe someone could enlighten me?

Neil”s Notes
I have been surprised by the number of hydro electric dams on both the Inn and Danube rivers, they are every 10 or 20 km. It appears that these dams and the constrained river, increase the turbulance and prevent the fine glacial particles from settling. Perhaps that’s why it isn’t blue.

Sept 13, Passau to Ottensheim, 86.6 km and blissfully flat!

A lovely day of river riding, getting to know other fellow cyclists along the way 🙂

Sept 14, Ottensheim to Grein, 81.5km.  Still flat!

Caught up with a couple of New Zealanders that we’d met at the Passau campsite, just in time to “join in” the triathlon that was underway on the cycle path.  So a bit of fun dodging the runners and cyclists all coming the other way.

We also spent the day trying to dodge the rain- it was incessant and a bit miserable for a while. 

A bit of a detour to ride through Austria’s oldest town, Enns, then back over the bridge to make it way to the charming little village of Grien.  We found a B&B that was completely oriented to bike tourists- places to dry our gear, including the sopping wet tent.  And a lovely breakfast included! Plus Lee, the American on a Brompton who we seemed to travel with every day to Passau.

Sept 15, Grein to Wachau, 55km. So flat it’s pretty much downhill…

A gorgeous sunny day, completely making up for yesterday’s miserable drizzle! We made it a short one today, stopping at a tiny campsite at the base of a castle (!) and enjoying the sunshine and some downtime.

Not a cloud in the sky…well maybe just one.  And that one somehow turned into a massive (targeted??) thunderstorm out of nowhere, just as we were set to eat our dinner.  Quite a torrential downpour for an hour or so, then back to a lovely calm and clear night.  Weird barely covers it…

Sept 16th-17th, Vienna! A lot of kms today (114) but all flat and great cycle paths so it wasn’t too much of a day.

An Airbnb and some time to explore the city of Music.  A fabulous walk around the city, such beautiful buildings.

We took in the lunchtime Organ concert at St Peters Church- so joyous to listen to Bach and Handel in this city, we really enjoyed this, especially the Bach Toccata finale.  Should probably have tried harder to see a chamber concert while here as well but it’s all very tourist orientated and extremely pricey. I do think I like Vienna, might have to put it on the list of “to do again one day” I reckon.

And now, to use up the very last of our Euros and continue along the Danube out of Austria…