We did more than 120 km today, including getting lost and additional km from some detours!

We left the nice, cheap municipal campsite in Zwentendorf on a sunny morning.

The path along the Danube was pretty and peaceful with a good surface. We followed the river for miles. Slightly less positively, the was Japanese Knotweed everywhere along the banks.

In the middle of nowhere we came upon a bench by the river and stopped for brunch.

The countyside was lovely even though we were relatively close to Vienna. We got to Vienna at lunchtime.

We weren’t sure if we wanted to camp in a big city like Vienna so, standing in Vienna, we decided to go the extra 60 km to the next campsite. We figured that if we just kept pedaling we would eventually get there.

Unfortunately there was a big detour through an area of outstanding natural beauty. They are remaking the bike path in that area but it won’t be ready until 2020.

We needed to cross the river at the last ferry crossing in Austria. It’s quite strange because you enter through a rather posh mini cruiser boat serving coffee. But you are directed all the way through the boat and out the other side to a small quasi- landing craft that is moored to the boat. We set off feeling a bit like Saving Private Ryan. At the other side, the helmsman doesn’t moore but simply keeps the engine running pushing the craft into the jetty, and you quickly (with your heavy tandem) exit through the front.

What’s more, where you are disgorged there is absolutely nothing except a sandy path. Luckily some locals explained the route.

The quality of the path was not great after Vienna and at one stage, close to our destination, Carnuntm, we needed to push.

There are literally hundreds of windmills in this area. I suppose because they could never get away with building them in Wachau!

The path was mostly very beautiful even though we were close to Vienna. And the unusual ferry crossing was good fun.

At the campsite we were fortunate that they served (very good as it turns out) food. We drank some Rubin Carnuntum wine with this. I am familiar with that wine from my former wine importing days.

I’m not sure exactly but we are only 20 or 30 km from the Slovak border.

Graham’s menu for cycling 120 km:

Half liter of full fat yoghurt and lots of blackberries for breakfast.

Cheese sandwiches, tomatoes, salad for brunch

Three slabs of fried Emmentaler with salad and alcohol free beer for lunch (Chris “that’s definitely 1,000 calories”)

Cheese omelette, chips and mixed salad plus red wine for super.

(Fortunately, we had supper healthy food the previous night)