We woke up to whiteness and even the heating in the room was struggling, but maybe that was because hubby thought we were still in Australia and had opened the window. We decided there and then it was going to be at least a 4 layer day. My balaclava was dragged out and the chemical handwarmers.

Tim’ s friend Mick had arrived from the Uk much later than expected the day before.After flying into Stuttgart he’d put his bike in the wrong part of the train so got off to move to the correct wagon and the train went off before he could get back on. As Mick speaks limited german this created a few problems eventually an english speaker was able to help him replan his journey to Donauschingen although it did involve a few harrowing fast platform changes up and down stairs with the train changes.So Mick arrived with his bike intact but feeling a little worse for wear, nothing that a few beers couldn’t sort out.

We met a spanish family the day before in the hotel who were also cycling this part of the Danube. Their 8 year old son cycled his own bike, and the younger son was pulled along in a childs bugy.Impressive. Everyone was concerned re the snow and slippery roads. I worked out Id last cycled in snow when I was 23..

As we left the forecast maximum was 4C Snow was beginning to fall thick and fast. Progress was slow as the novelty of snow for us Aussies was too much and we had to keep stopping to admire the scenery. A herd of deer bounced past us just to make the perfect scene. Progress was also delayed by hubby who seems to have bought the kitchen sink with him on this trip , not to mention his oversize tyres which yes did prove useful in the snow.

We didnt make 20kms for our coffee stop as we thought stopping after 16kms might encourage it to stop snowing.Everyone had the same idea so as we were leaving the Spanish family arrived. Then a cyclist arrived whose bike was coated in mud and snow, he had already cycled 100kms and had another 60kms to go to Switzerland. Better not to mention we only planned to do 55kms. As we left the cafe I please note sacrificed some of my chemical handwarmers to hubby whose fingers were looking a little blue inspite of the sealskinz gloves.

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Lunch was in Tuttlingen the town that makes most of the worlds surgical instruments . As we left Tuttlingen the sky darkened again and we were hit by what felt like hail.The scenery changed to gorge like and the river narrowed again, very pretty.

Sink holes seem to be happening all along the river bed so the huge torrent disappears underground leaving only a small amount left in the river.

Our days cycling ended in Fridlingen a small village that between 1324 and 1805 was part of Austria. A lovely bikenbett hotel am Sonne was a welcome respite from the elements.Pretty place that sports a ski lift and plenty of walking trails.Relax time.

Great dinner in Hotel am Sonne the boys enoyed their calves liver in red wine whilst I tucked into a barley and garlic risotto, plus the garlic and lasparagus soup . I won’t be able to breathe on anyone tomorrow…garlic…

Convent tomorrow night so no internet, doesnt mean we didn’t get there ..