We enjoyed a lovely breakfast with Pierre and Louise. They are special people. We had a great deal in common. We were all on our way to Vienna today, otherwise we would have lingered longer than we did. Our weather was different from yesterday. No rain, but overcast when we woke up. Evidently it had been sunny earlier, but Keith and I slept through that.
It was a very different ride today from yesterday. The valley opened up and it was a wide, flat plain. It was breezy when we started out, and the wind continued to build for much of the day. It was all behind us, all the way. By the time we got to Vienna we were travelling at 27 to 30 km an hour with very little effort. A couple of times we headed into the wind for 100 m or so to wind around a lock, or other obstruction and it was hilarious the difference. So it was a very quick ride into Vienna. We confess to both being a bit puzzled by the popularity of this route. It evidently sees 1.8 million cyclists a year - and from what we can see, 1.75 million come in July and August. We are only seeing a few touring cyclists besides ourselves. We found today unremarkable in terms of scenery. It must be the parts from Passau to Linz and Melk to Krems - and then of course, being bookended by two beautiful cities. Or perhaps it is because it is flat!
This signage puzzled us for a moment, as it seemed contradictory. Then we realized it was telling us we were moving off a short section where the bike path was on the street and back to bikes only. This is certainly a well marked path. The Bikekline book points out that it is virtually impossible to get lost on the route in to Vienna. It is so well signed, and the river is right there.
Keith and I could both rattle off so many things we love about bike touring, but oddly enough, one thing is that you see it all. Today he took a few pictures coming in to Vienna (which IS a beautiful city) to show what one might miss in a car or on a train.
When you enter a large city on a bike, it is not all pretty.
We have a great little apartment for the next two days, and we may decide to stay a third. We have to figure out what we are going to do next, and we have to see Vienna. I am a tourist, and tomorrow I am going to embrace that role!
Today's ride: 77 km (48 miles) Total: 1,250 km (776 miles)
