28 July 2014 Vienna, Austria (0 miles; Total = 324 miles) This Vienna is overwhelming. There are huge buildings everywhere, there are imposing churches everywhere, there are museums everywhere, there are trams everywhere, there are people everywhere, and luckily for us, there’s a beer garden over here in front of the Rathaus (City Hall). I …
27 July 2014 Krems to Vienna, Austria (52 miles; Total = 324 miles) Gina has us speeding along the Danube on our way to Vienna. My Tortoise is having trouble keeping up with her Hare. I can only hope she stops to take a nap. I’m not sure why we’re in such a hurry but …
25 July 2014 Melk, Austria (0 miles; Total = 248 miles) Happy Birthday To You Happy Birthday To You Happy Birthday Dear Gina Happy Birthday To You I know you’re going to say I went overboard this year, but really, it was nothing: for Gina’s birthday, I got her a new spoke. It’s sparkly and …
24 July 2014 Mauthausen to Melk, Austria (55 miles; Total = 248 miles) I’m pretty sure the lady who lives here next to the bike shop is a hoarder, if the five big dogs running around in this filthy outdoor pen are any indication. Shame On Her is what I have to say – these …
23 July 2014 Linz to Mauthausen, Austria (18 miles; Total = 193 miles) Today’s goal: Let’s not get wet. We probably should have been a bit more specific and added something like “at any point today,” which explains why we had a dry bicycle ride but are now standing beneath a tree, seeking cover from …
22 July 2014 Inzell to Linz, Austria (34 miles; Total = 175 miles) The rain is starting to fall harder now and Gina is over there in a frenzied state, grabbing and shoving every item not currently packed in a waterproof bag into a Ziploc or beneath a shower cap. I’m trying to ignore her …
21 July 2014 Vilshofen, Germany to Inzell, Austria (47 miles; Total = 141 miles) “Don’t mess with Mama.” This is our mantra for the evening. We’ve checked into the cutest riverside Gasthof in a town that consists of 4 buildings which I think, perhaps, makes this place not actually a town. “Mama” is the octogenarian …
28 Aug 2011 Fussbach, Austria to Stafa, Switzerland (48 km) She was flagging us down from the side of the road and we simultaneously thought to ourselves, “Who is that crazy lady?” Why it was Monique, of course. Monique from New Zealand, Monique from the Banks Peninsula Track, Monique from the Christchurch earthquake experience, Monique …
27 Aug 2011 Outside Hergatz, Germany to Fussbach, Austria (37 km) Thunder is a really cool sound when you’re indoors, wrapped up in your fluffy duvet, contemplating that steaming cup of coffee that’s brewing in the Biker Bar downstairs. It’s not the coolest of sounds when you think past the coffee to the next step, …
25 Aug 2011 Lermoos, Austria to Nesselwang, Germany (50 km) As we climbed on board, her strong (a.k.a., loud) American accent bellowed “Now THIS is a TRAIN!” No matter that people were now staring. Gina was beyond excited that we had just boarded a train with our loaded bikes with a simple push of a …