Day 31: Bruck an der Mur to Spital am Semmering 62km, 4:20
Our route today took us on the R5 cycle path from Bruck an der Mur, a typical Austrian Village, through rolling farmlands, touching in at villages every 5-6 km. We climbed steadily until we arrived at Murzzuschlag where we joined the R46 that took us along the Semmering river all the way to Spital am Semmering.
We are loving seeing Austria in the "summer" - did I say summer - it is 10 degrees here! The hills are covered in a myriad shades of green - it is beautiful. The villages have farms with cattle on their doorstep. It is lovely to see that rural life is so closely intertwined with town living. We passed a farmer bailing the hay out of the stables and 2 minutes later we passed a family clipping their hedge in suburbia.
It was chilly this morning when we set off so we put on our longs and under garments, it didn't warm up! This is the coldest weather we have had on our trip so far. The Peonies and roses are still in bud whereas in Graz they are in full bloom! We managed to pull into Spital am Semmering, which is very much a small sleepy mountain village, just before the heavens opened. It is close to the ski slopes so I guess that it gets busy during the ski season.
We popped into the cafe of the Gasthaus Hirschenhof, where we are staying, for a drink. We could hardly see each other for the smoke - so many people smoke here, and there do not seem to be any restrictions about smoking inside.
It is a self catering supper of sausages and sauerkraut tonight, had to keep it local.
We were glad there was a fence!
Looking up the Semmering Valley
From the R5 onto the R46 cycle route.
Does anyone recognize these chaps ?
A last view of Spital am Semmering.
The laws for protection from cigarette smoke vary widley over Europe. Some countries have quite good laws, others such as Austria have just a minimum standard. Any place below 80 sqmeters can choose whether smoming or non smoking. Anything bigger has to be non smoking and is allowed to have a separated area for smokers. In Switzerland, by the way, there is a different law for almost every canton, the minimum being as in Austria, Basel in the other hand doesn't allow any smoking.
ReplyDeleteIn Austria there should be a sign at the entrance.