Rossatzbach and Danube.

Found an aire on the Danube cycle path, and took a leisurely cycle up river, past vineyards and apple and apricot trees. Stopped for tea annd bought some locally made "Marillen" (apricot) jam. This part of the Danube valley is a World Heritage site, the Wachau, and is very beautiful. There are many cruise ships going up and down, and vineyard visits can be enjoyed.

The next day was a little cooler but still in mid-20´s. We crossed the Danube by ferry at St Lorenz. The ferry had no engine, but instead a clever mechanism  (of overhead cables) to use the 8kph current as its source of propulsion.

We proceeded on the north bank past Melk, watching cruise ships and cargo vessels going up and down. Having left the vineyards behind, this part of the valley seems heavily wooded, and there are signs of lumber industry everywhere. We stopped in the village of Baumgartenberg as a lunch break. The church here was refreshingly different to what we have been seeing, with plainer walls, and less gaudy colouring.

The sat nav worked admirably again today, and took us to the aire next to a sports complex, which included a lido. Although it was becoming somewhat overcast, we had a lovely swim for only 3.50E, and even the rain didn´t spoil our fun.  Late in the evening, some men were using the grandstand area, playing a game which might have been kugeln, which involved sliding a stone (very much like a curling stone) towards a jack or target at the otther end of the rink. They seemed to be having great fun.

Our route today could have taken us through DED, but already having been to DIE, we thought this wasn´t necessary.

Having climbed out of the Danube valley, the countryside is now much more agricultural, but there´s not much sign of livestock. We find  this surprising as pork is cheap and plentiful here.