Day 28 - Ehrenhausen to Graz

Day 28. Ehrenhausen to Graz. 50km, 3h15.

It was heavily overcast as we left Ehrenhausen, and within minutes we had to stop to pull on the rain jackets. We cycled in light but steady rain along the Murradweg, the cycle path going upstream along the Mur River. It was such a pleasure not to have to deal with traffic in wet conditions. 

The cycle path left the river at times to wander through farmland, where we were surrounded by wheat, rye, corn, spinach, pea, potato, strawberry and leek fields. Judging by the size of the plants (7ft high rye) and the amount of weed killer, it all looked pretty GM to us. A good part of the path was through natural forest with white rosa multiflora rambling up into the trees, past numerous barrages and then along a very fast-flowing Mur River.

We arrived at our accommodation early, so dumped our bags and bikes and set off to orientate ourselves to Graz, the 2nd largest city of Austria, in the steady drizzle. Graz is the Unesco Design City for 2014; there is an interesting blend of modern architecture with the impressive Baroque buildings of the Hapsburg era. We will take photographs tomorrow  when the sun is supposed to appear again. 

We are staying at the Jufa Graz-City Hotel, a kind of modern family-friendly hostel. It caters superbly for travelers of all ages; the price is very reasonable (but evidently varies dramatically depending on demand), it includes a breakfast buffet (so the WW vacuum cleaners are fully charged), and the rooms are spacious with a very clever design. We are not normally keen on hotels but this concept works. 

Somehow we ended up at a vegan cafe for supper, where a light jazz band kept us entertained. I stood out as the only person without a headband or dreadlocks. Fortunately no-one recognized me so I'm unlikely to be tagged on Facebook, and I did manage to avoid the tofu burger. The main course of deep-fried cauliflower was a novel experience, but I have to admit the food was excellent. The menu was translated for us by a fellow patron, a young and passionate entomologist from Berlin. He spent the evening telling us about the communication systems of grasshoppers, and we reciprocated with the rhino situation. 

The Murradweg in the rain.

Rosa multiflora climbing trees along the route.

The Mur River speeds up as we approach Graz.

Now that's what the entrance to underground parking should look like.

Jazz band at Cafe Erde.