Special guest blog post from … Chris

Right. Time to pack. We need to work around each other in the small space available. Then … loud crack.. bed broken. We had to go an own up and were met with the rather accusatory face of the receptionist. I wonder what she thought we’d been doing.

Cycling was as liberating as ever. As on other days we are guided along the Danube and through agricultural and woodland areas.

Thus far we have not used any maps (no need, signage very good) or guides, so we don’t know what to expect from one moment to the next. So, when we found ourselves in a busy car park, we did not know what that was about. The unknown attraction turned out to be a convent, one where apparently they make gallons and gallons of beer.

We had a drink of Weltenburger Kloster weissbier (alcohol free) and an apple spritzer before we went in. When we got there the large courtyard was packed with people drinking. We opted for a more pious pursuit and visited the baroque church. Pretty amazingly ornate, with gold liberally splashed around. The next surprise was a boat ride to a nearby town, Tekel and all.

From there we resumed out path, discounting various campsites for various reasons. So, on we went to Regensburg, way beyond the originally planned distance. Just then it started bucketing down, thunder all around. In fact one of the loudest thunderclaps I have ever heard. After sheltering for a short while, we decided to brave it.

Our black ponchos were billowing in the strong wind as we were on the exposed path on top of the dyke. I thought of the dance of death in the Seventh Seal but that is of course way too fancy.

All’s well that ends well. We reached the campsite after cycling 88 km. Rain stopped, we smothered our broken tentpole in superglue and enveloped it in copious lengths of gaffer tape. Then we slept like babies.