Rest day in Ingolstadt was great, quite a wealthy city with many oil refineries and of course the audi factory but a very relaxed feel with ice cream parlours and parks everywhere. Hubby enjoyed his birthday oggling the DKW motorbikes and cars in the audi museum, I quite enjoyed reading the history of the electric push bikes and the motor car. Those old cars looked so luxurious but I know they were real bone shakers.We also visited the Asam church of Marie de Victoria where the whole ceiling is one incredible fresco, one of the largest frescoes in the world, painted by 2 monk brothers Cosmas Damian and Egid Asam and a pure gold monstrace depicting the victory over the turks. Of couse the other thing Ingolstadt is famous for is producing the best beer in the world not to also forget the setting for Mary Shelleys “Frankenstein” novel.

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We were glad we’d booked our hotels up over easter as we saw cyclists being turned away from our hotel in Ingolstadt. The breakfasts at the Altstadthotel were amazing so it was with some difficulty we got onto our bikes on easter morning with very full tummys. We’d even had small chocolate bunnies with our breakfast.I had vaguely thought I’d go to the dawn easter service at the fransiscan church but alas i slept in.Apparently all the bells of the churches rang at midnight but we slept through it.

A scenic ride to Kelheim we took the signposted Donau route although there were many variations some without any hills. A great coffee spot in Vohburg mid morning in the historic market square with all the wisteria starting to flower.A few gentle hills took us through the hop growing areas, the hops just starting to climb up their wires/trellises. As we approached Weltenburg Abbey we encountered hundreds of cars trying to park and crowds of people. Weltenburg Abbey is obviously where you go on Easter Sunday.!! We didnot even attempt to visit the abbey, impossible with our fully laden bikes, even though the thought of the famous abbey beer was tempting, brewed since 1050.

Luckily everyone was still coming to the Abbey rather than leaving so it wasn’t too difficult to get on the boat trip down the gorge where the Danube dramatically narrows. You miss it if you cycle well thats our excuse, so a very beautiful 30minute boat ride down to Kelheim. We were in time for lunch in Kelheim and then checked into the Dormero hotel with its quirky black and red colour scheme like the one in Villingen. They were obviously running short of visitors to the bar so were also giving out free vouchers.

Pleasant strolling around Kelheim although missed the archaeology museum, it had just closed. Kelheim was another site of a celtic village, then a roman town and had fought off Napoleon having a huge memorial to this on top of the hill. Plenty of lovely ice cream parlours and coffee shops full of cakes.

Mick and I decided to make use of our free vouchers for the bar for a cocktail.There was nobody in the bar and ‘Ive never seen a cocktail made with so much alcohol in my life, not a drop of soda.It seemed to start with campari, then brandy, sparkling wine ,mint and lemon and goodness what else. I gave up after 3/4 of the drink , luckily no disco around or Id have been on the dance floor.

Hubby and I headed off to breakfast at a local cafe in the morning as the breakfasts at the Dormero hotels are ridiculously expensive at 16euros, so we had a very beautifully presented local breakfast instead including chocolate bunny. Leaving Kelheim it was an easy ride to Regensburg,but for those of us suffering from the effects of the cocktail from the night before it wasn’t so easy.

Some of those dyke paths were pretty rough. You couldnt look around too much or you’d hit a huge pot hole. Micks thinner tyres didnt handle the terrain so well but he stayed upright just with a few close shaves.

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Into the World Heritage town of Regenstadt after weaving through the crowds of walkers and cyclists, the busiest the Donauradweg has been all trjp .A delightful quaint hotel Orpheus, with bowls of easter eggs everywhere yum, our first room was very bohemian I loved it, BUT very noisy from tiny street below us and we had requested a quiet room which they said they’d given us. Next room was very quiet in the main hotel but heating wouldnt work so on third attempt we ended up in a palatial suite with roof top views, chandelers and cathedral views!!! Wow…lucky we’ve given ourselves an extra night here to see Regensburg.