DAY 50 - JULY 30 - BRATISLAVA
My day off in Bratislava was partially spent checking out some view points. From past experience, I thought it would be better to bike around instead of walking. It was quite a hump up and a cobbled road down from the castle. It was a short tour, but I got an overview of the city. The video clip sums up the view from the castle.
Route;
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3897946908
Relive;
Pictures;
DAY 49 - JULY 29 - VIENNA to BRATISLAVA
Today I went from Austria to Slovakia when I left Vienna and traveled to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. I decided not to go along the Danube, but headed across the Danube and went through the unexceptional farmlands until back on the Danube near Bratislava.
While crossing the Danube from Vienna, you can see the long tour boats waiting to take folks up or down the river. I was very impressed with the architecture of that one high rise and I took several pictures. I will mention that I got completely lost trying to get out of Vienna.
As I approached Bratislava I got some distant pictures of it's most prominent sight, Bratislava Castle. Read more here;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bratislava_Castle
Another amazing sight is the UFO Bridge, which from the correct angle resembles the bad boys from "War of the Worlds". More info here;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_SNP
While searching for my lodging I got a few pictures of the old part of town.
I checked into a really nice place and will stay another night and have more pictures of Bratislava tomorrow.
Route;
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3894566599
Relive;
https://www.relive.cc/view/gh38153048009
Pictures;
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx3Uat7ycLoTKy-ukM?e=WnQZpg
DAY 48 - JULY 28 - TULLN to VIENNA
It was a short cloudy day to Vienna, mostly along the Danube. This gave me enough time to have a walk around the oldest part of the city. And what a city it is!
Incredible sights of buildings, statues, monuments, and the throngs of tourists around every corner. It was completely exhausting. I thought the city was very classy, clean, and well maintained. A person could spend several days here to see it properly.
Route;
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3890459051
Relive;
Pictures;
DAY 47 - JULY 27 - MARBACH to TULLN
I started off on a drizzly day and it continued for the first half of the ride. At least the temps dropped a bit and I had the opportunity to finally wear my rain jacket. It really wasn't too bad although it put a damper on my photography. The first picture of an old castle ruin is in a town called Weitenegg.
The rainy half of the ride was along the Danube. Later I was on really quiet paved farm roads. There were some nice sunflower fields along with plenty of corn. The mermaid was right in the middle of a roundabout.
Tulln seems to be a wealthier town than most and the last three pictures are from there.
Route;
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3887893069
Relive;
https://www.relive.cc/view/g38054258440
Pictures;
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx3G6iZ-UVLl1VPTRn?e=rfK2xC
DAY 46 - JULY 26 - LINZ to MARBACH
I reluctantly left my air conditioned perch above Linz as it was forecast to be another hot day. It was rush hour in the city and I got a very quick look at the third largest city in Austria before heading across the Danube to begin my ride east. Giant tour boats are in abundance taking tourists up and down the river.
It wasn't long before I got to the town of Mauthausen. I had a hard time deciding if I was going to visit Mauthausen Concentration Camp. It was only about 3 miles out of my way and off I went. There was about a 300 foot steep climb to get up there that I didn't know about.
I knew enough history that there weren't any surprises for me. It is really more of a memorial now with nice statuary and monuments. The most poignant thing for me were some of the placards in the barracks with quotes from some of the survivors. One of the docents there told me that this place is tiny compared to some of the others. This happened only 75 years ago. The one question that lingers for me; "Is this as far as we have evolved?" If you need more info;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauthausen-Gusen_concentration_camp_complex
My route continued almost entirely right along a paved trail next to the Danube. There were some very nice towns along the way, like Grein. It started raining just as I arrived in Marbach an der Donau.
Route;
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3884596131
Relive;
https://www.relive.cc/view/g38005238128
Pictures;
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx3FD1-uLjzPJL8XHw?e=48yg8o
DAY 44 - JULY 24 - TIMELKAM to LINZ
It was a slow photo day mostly due to heat and humidity. That being said, I was on very few busy roads, and you can see one of the paved paths right through a corn field. The colorful apartment building was on the outskirts of Linz.
I am staying at a very nice hotel several hundred feet above Linz. The view, although hazy, is pretty good. One of the few places that I have stayed with air conditioning. Heating yes, but air conditioning is not a high priority in most places that I have been. Also, once in a while there is a small refrigerator, sometimes a coffee maker, never a microwave. A few of the differences between here and the USA. When breakfast is included it is always very good.
The heat persists (95 today), and thanks to air conditioning I am staying put for two nights and probably not leaving my room.
Route;
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3878180683
Relive;
https://www.relive.cc/view/g37907750431
Pictures;
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx3Ep_j_xwPvyxsc85?e=5omkyH
DAY 43 - JULY 23 - SALZBURG to TIMELKAM
I was staying at a B & B just south of Salzburg that was fine except for the sketchy wifi. It was another hot and humid day, but I was determined to see some of Salzburg on the way out of the area. I'm feeling a little guilty for my quick look at the city. What a great place! A person could easily spend several days here. A few photos and I'm out in the countryside again.
Again I was on hardly any busy roads. I have grown fond of this software that allows me to do this;
https://cycle.travel/
After Salzburg, more of the same nice farmlands and some forests and cute towns.
Route;
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3875413886
Relive;
https://www.relive.cc/view/g37865886876
Pictures;
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuvSBXwonxKx3Cic8Vo98lkhxrDZ?e=I7f8wg
