12 August 2014
Eugendorf to Kuchl, Austria (25 miles; Total = 637 miles)

As we cycle through this peaceful farm, I’m practicing my counting like a pre-schooler: 2 pigs, 5 cats, 9 sheep, 12 goats, and oh-oh, 1 dog that’s now chasing after Gina. “Dog! Stop! Stop! Stop!” I shout, which she does and so does our canine friend. And he is friendly. As soon as Gina stops her bicycle, he starts wagging his tail. This dog is clearly not from Louisiana.

We are on the Tauernradweg cycling route south of Salzburg, sadly having left the suite and pool behind this morning but not the rain. We could see it coming before we even got a stone’s throw away from the hotel, but we were determined to move ourselves forward. This always sounds better than it really is in practice, but we’re both working hard on not having meltdowns in the downpour. Beautiful scenery helps, as do cute baby goats and hotels with flowery window boxes.

Something else that might help is Austrian Water Therapy. Gina does her best stork imitation per the instructions but I’m not sure she found the freezing water all that therapeutic. Then again, focusing on one’s popsicle toes instead of tomorrow’s weather forecast might count as therapy after all.