It was sad to farewell our Pension Peter Siels Radl , particularly as one of the ladies at breakfast said she was staying another day rather than cycle in the rain!!Anita gave us a smiley rock from the Danube river bed to take on our journey (more weight I chose the smallest rock, hubby the biggest).We thought just a 3 clothing layer day as it was eventually meant to reach 16C. Haha we were lucky if it made 10C…

We set off in drizzle which gradually increased in intensity, it was a rural very beautiful section but a hot drink wouldnot have gone amiss .As we past a fish display on the Danube the temperature said 6C!! We side tracked slightly into Mitterkirchen but no sign of a coffee shop just strong vapours pouring out of all the drains , yes a definite sewage aroma something was brewing down there and a good Maypole already up.

We cycled on Anita had encouraged us to visit the Celtic reconstructed village so we sidetracked to this, it didnt open till May so was all locked up. I was tempted to climb over the fence but thought better of it, didnt want to end up in an Austrian jail.Fortunately the reconstructed Celtic hall had been left open outside the complex. So we had a welcome break from the rain and hubby put his leggings on, I found my balaclava and inner merino gloves and we were ready to take on the elements again it wasnt getting any warmer.

No sign of anything open so we had to head into Grein to go for hot chocolates to warm up, this was 2 kms from the bridge we had to cross the Danube on because guess what the ferry from Grein wasnt operating till May.So it did mean we had to cycle 2kms back still the detour was worth it as Grein was a very pretty town . We accidently stopped at the most amazing Conditorie, cakes to die for and enormous hot chocolates and it was so warm, lovely. We looked around the town and thought we had better have lunch here as everything had been shut on the way in. A kind gentleman recommended a restaurant for us he couldnt imagine what Australians were doing there in the pouring rain.Yes, it was now a deluge not drizzle.

A great lunch nothing like a bowl of garlic soup to get the circulation going.Then it was back out into the rain, suprisingly Grein was the first place we’d seen other cyclists today,about 10 amazingly.A pretty ride on the other side of the river as the Danube channelled into a steep gorge, very scenic.Ybbs where we are staying is a little scruffy not as well maintained as other historic towns but the old hotel from the 16th century is very quaint.

May Day tomorrow I hope we can find a wurst and glass of beer around a may pole somewhere because nothing else will be open..