pics #379 - #401

Tuesday January 11th - White Overtone Mirror
This morning I have a succesfull attempt to stand up with the alarm clock ringing, but then I get back to bed! finally past ten o’clock, I get ready for a last breakfast in a house I stayed for nearly three weeks. Ready to charge the bags, I discover a flat tire on the bike. No trace of puncture on the inner tube. Pumping it seem to hold air enough. This unexpected maintenance gets me one more bowl of porridge and and the Youth Hostel card membership from the postman, just in time. Goodbye to the Mörth family and volunteers with whom I shared a nice resting time. On the road again, by the Donau cycling path, free of snow. I cross the Wachau, a wine region, where vines are planted in terraces.

          St. Michael

On hills becoming steeper, fortresses appear while the fog over the river gets lower, hiding me long-distance scenery. My right knee is aching, while the left goes fine. The castle of Stein holded Richard Lionheart king of England prisoner, back from the crusades. I pass on the other side of the river while it’s getting dark. A little more cycling in the relatively flat ot Traismauer where my host Bernhard waits for my at the train station. He and Jenny and their cat leave at the outskirts of this small city. We dine of Palatschinken, wraps.

Wednesday January 12th - Blue Rhythmic Storm
This morning, no one to wake up early, day off for Jenny, home study for Bernhard, no cycling for me. In the afternoon he guides me through the historical and cultural aspects of his town.

          Traismauer: factory and mill canal

We all go dining in a Heuringen, restaurants of wine makers, for wine degustation with cold meat and cheese dishes. Cheap and consistent : I can’t finish my plate. We wrap the rest in aluminium to bring it home.

Thursday January 13th - Yellow Resonant Sun
Leaving early with Bernhard going to catch his train. The distance is very short. I cycle slowly taking detours in the flat Tullner Feld, not sure that I established a record of sluggishness.

          Sitzenberg

          One of many rivers joining the Donau

Reaching Tulln at mid-day. My host Marlies managed to have a friend of her taking care of me during the afternoon. So meet I Kathrin who gives me a round of the city, quoted in the Niebelungen legends, before resting at her home.

          Tulln: a scene of the Niebelungen legends

It is exam time for all my hosts: Bernhard, Marlies, Kathrin, and I am grateful for their kindness to give me hospitality. For diner, Kathrin’s parents share the tastes of their region: cheeses, locally produced ham and sausages, white wines. Not forgetting to adopt a vegetarian regime and sober attitude. Before we leave to Marlies they insist to fill my bags with food despite me arguing the distance left is short, anyway I can't resist to cheese and chocolates.

Friday January 14th - Red Galactic Dragon
Late breakfast after a long yoga session. Goal of the day: Wien, an ashtangi host, and 3 yoga studios offering Mysore classes! The ride goes fast on the side of the river, warm weather for the season: around 13ºC. Cycling down to a lake, formerly an old arm of the Donau, a cyclist indicates me that the bridge cannot be taken because of high waters: now wonder with the amount of snow melted from the last days.

          The Nile river, or is it the Donau? I can't say without my glasses

          Altenberg: 2000km, let's extend the trip for one year

By this lake dominated by a fortress, I pass 2000km, on my 73rd day of cycling. Seriously I need two years to cycle to India: 730 days for 20.000km. Back here and now: in Altenberg, streets are indeed flooded, the cycling path is underwater. On a national road, becoming a four way road, I reach the capital of Austria, in which I am confused by the cycling paths system. Dutch engineers needed here too!

          Wien: Rathaus.

My hosts leave near one of the biggest commercial roads of Wien -Vienna- Maria-Hilferstrasse. They are two brothers: Fabian, practicing ashtanga yoga, and Matthias, buddhist studying religions. Nice talks, nice feeling from the start. They have a bedroom for me and a big room where to practice yoga. I am already thinking about organizing classes there, to share and develop my teaching skills.