EV6 day 18

Having thrown my toys out of the pram at the end of the last stage we licked our wounds in the Crowne Plaza Bratislava. We just sat out the storm, Passepartout sorted out the dhobi- sweaty cycling gear stank my room out so we had to do something! We looked around the town which is rich in history- we didn’t really do it justice!

Weather was turning better later in the day so we had a leisurely check out of the hotel at 0900. Only 64 kms to do on todays leg- however I also needed to catch up the 40 kms I was short when the weather did for the end of the last leg! By the time we had driven back there through the traffic it was an 1100 start!

What a difference 2 days makes- weather is not cold it’s dry and I have a small tail wind. I zoom up the well surfaced cycle path at a steady 25 kph.

One of the first things I come across is a bar barge moored by the bank. It’s a gin barge! Timing is everything and it’s only just lunchtime- but it is tempting.

Next we go through a national park. It is lovely but 2 things stand out. Firstly I have to wade over a closed part of the trail where the raised levels in the Danube have flooded the path. It is closed – but like me everyone ignores it as no one wants to do the detour! Secondly I don’t see any wildlife. There are however loads of cuckoos making their call. Unless the Swiss have dumped a load of obsolete clocks in the area the species is doing really well.

Then I approach Vienna. It is a beautiful city and I am disappointed to be going on through but I am on a schedule. I cycle through and 10 kms past as there is a good campsite on the route there. In keeping with the ethos of the trip so far it is full. We look at a viewpoint up a steep hill that give a terrific view over the city – which is much bigger than we had first thought. It is supposed to be ok as an over Night stop but it isn’t! So off we go back to a lay-by. Living the dream. Weather is now really on the up but getting accommodation is still really difficult.