Orient Express Day 21 Emmersdorf to Vienna - 126km [Part 1]

I slept very well overnight - must have been a combination of hard riding and Almdudler. Alf and Evlyn came across to join us for coffee at around 6.45am and we bade them a fond farewell as they were heading to Vienna in the van with John the Lame to catch their flight at 4pm.

Bye bye Alf & Evlyn - we shall miss you!!

Having lost our regular cycling partners, Edna and I negotiated to ride with Stirling the Strong, with whom we had ridden in group with Alf, Evlyn and Leana, and off we set for the journey to Vienna. We rode through wine country for around 25km. Some of the vines appeared to be quite old, especially the terraced ones, and I was reminded of areas in Italy through which I have cycled - no joching!!

Time for refreshment in Krems and, hard as it might be to believe, Edna found a schnekke and discovered that in Austria they are cut in half! Stirling opted for apple strudel and I had a hot chocolate and vanilla/berry cake. The lady at the next table was watching her weight, as was I..

After our delicious stop, and after a couple of "detours" which will be referred to in Part 2, off we headed across the hydro-electric dam Donaukraftwerk at Altenworth where we were accosted by a Canadian group from BC demanding a toll. We politely refused to make payment, eh, and cycled on the south side of the Danube to Tulln where an emergency services display was exhibited and, in bright sunshine, we chose a restaurant for lunch and were passed at various times by cyclists from our Tour. The Canadians eventually rocked up for a chat as we were readying to leave. Stirling had a triple meat lunch and I managed the child serve of chicken schnitzel with chips and 2 Almdudlers. Edna settled for her camp made sandwiches and coffee.

After lunch, we found the Donau with a little help from a local and set out for our resting place for the next three nights - Vienna.The last 20km were fairly ordinary but there were some interesting sights across the Danube and a reminder to slip slop slap...

We cycled in through a music festival on the Donau Insel and, after parking the bikes in the Ibis Hotel garage and showering, I set off for a schnitzel sandwich, two more Almdudlers and an early night.