Day 38. Wallsee-Sindelburg to Haibach ob der Donau. 99km, 5h30.
We gleaned advice about accommodation in Germany from our fellow guests and cyclists over breakfast. The Dutch couple acted as the interpreters for us and an elderly German couple gave us the info. They received information about the rhinos in return.
We then set off and, believe it or not, promptly lost the Danube. Losing a river this size takes some doing, but the signage for the bike path had changed from Eurovelo 6 to the R1. All ended well as we had a very pleasant cycle through small villages and fields of young corn, spinach, broad beans and wheat, with the snow-covered Alps in the distance on our left. This is also cider country with farms offering cider heurigen. Our route in fact turned out to be a short-cut.
We have seen quite a few snakes along the roads of Austria, up to about 5ft long which has been a surprise. They are evidently Aesculapian snakes which reach over 2 meters in length and are not venomous. They look a bit like green molesnakes.
The weather today has been absolutely perfect (that's two in a row). Not a cloud in the sky, not a breathe of wind and the temperature approaching 30 degrees. All shapes, ages and sizes of both Austrian bicycle and cyclist were out and about in this weather. From grannies on e-bikes, to small children on BMXs, to serious teams on racing bikes, to fearless teenagers on mountain bikes, they were all having a great Saturday, stopping for picnics, beers or ice-creams along the way. It looks like a summer version of the skiing lifestyle, and fortunately the cycle paths cope well with the number of bikes.
We made good time to Linz crossing the Danube a few times either by small bike ferry or at a power station barrage. We remained on the opposite side of the river going past Linz as we still had quite a way to go and have given both other big Austrian cities (Vienna and Graz) a fair bit of attention. After a pitstop or two, we continued through forests along the steep bank until we arrived at Idylle am Donauufer, a small pension and beer garden at Kobling, below Haibach ob der Donau. This is indeed an idyllic spot right on the bank at the small ferry jetty.
We found our way back to the Danube.
On the bike ferry at Mauthausen.
Lunch opposite Linz.
The hazelnut flavour is our favourite.
A party boat going past. Lots of happy noise, and the rowing definitely not synchronized.
The Danube makes a few tight bends as we approach the overnight stop.
Thanks for sharing! Have fun. Marc & Renée
ReplyDeleteLooks like sublime weather! Just seen a very interesting insert on Carte Blanche about the vets who save the rhinos who survive after being de-horned by poachers. So tragic to see these magnificent animals with huge holes where their horns used to be - I cried. However, these special people manage to save quite a few rhinos with potent antibiotics & they make plaster of Paris moulds to cover the wounds
ReplyDeleteGreat that you are enjoying yourselves, missing you in the unit. All in F ICU
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