Vienna

It has been a long time coming but here is how things finished up for our trip

With a quick Google search we were happy to see there was a cycleway (Euro 6) following the Danube River between Bratislava and Vienna. We could avoid all the busy highways and enjoy a nice pleasant day riding to our final destination of Vienna.

The day was hot and windy, a head wind of course. The cycleway was, well; straight, and generally along a stopbank with no shade. We were surrounded by forest about 100m either side of us so views of Danube were also few and far between. It was nice, however to be on a cycleway without cars and not have to think about navigation until you miss a turnoff and end up on a little track leading you to nowhere but that's a minor detail.

Head that way

The Danube! Keep going straight

Focus Calvin!

The cycleway did treat us to a once in a lifetime experience. As we passed through an industrial fuel farm over a small brow, we reached the Danube River and there we were unintentionally steering at old mate and his partners liberated privates. We had come across our first nudist strip (excuse the pun) along the river. We hesitated for a bit, one to find out where we were meant to go and secondly to come to terms with what we had come across trying to look unfazed about it. Then we thought with the sun blazing down on us and a beautiful river next to us, well, when in Austria... do as the liberated senior citizen nudist do. It was very refreshing and just what the body needed before reaching melting point.

Yep, felt pretty good

The following two days we spent in and out of the river as the very conveniently located campsite in Vienna was only a few hundred metres from the river. We were a little bit more modestly dressed this time though.

We spent a couple of days taking in some of the sights of Vienna, highlights being the Hundertwasser House and industrial chimney he beautified, training and traming everywhere (even if accidently getting on the wrong line and ending up in random suburb late one night), Calvin getting a haircut with included nostril hair and eye lash trim and ear wax (a true european experience) and relaxing in shaded parks with lakes or rivers to swim in whenever possible.

Impressive Hundertwasser

Unfortunately things weren't all fun and games in Vienna. Our second bike lock siezed and had to be cut to release our bikes, our only charger over heated and died (battery banks are saviours) and amongst all our joyful river time and ice creams we lost Kate's wallet with our remaining €600 and all her cards. Total bummer.

This has taken a long to finnaly post.  We have finished up our cycling now, been to Scotland for the Edinburgh festival, hung out with Calv's sisters, fitted in a cheeky road trip around Scotland (amazing place - less persistent rain and midgies, with spectacular raw natural beauty) and have headed back home to NZ. Although Calvin got on the wrong flight and ended up in Aussie so now has to ride from memory lane Margaret River to Melbourne.

Keep on pedaling!