2 September Plattling to Passau

Today 2 September, I have tested my legs. They feel fine after 75 km’s from Plattling to Passau. Ten of those km’s were just detours. Have to get adjusted to the signs and the meanings. There isn’t only one Donauradweg. There is also the Donau-Ilz Radweg, but that is really taking you somewhere else! But I did buy a superb map of the Danube - from Passau to Budapest - in one big folder, so I should be safe now. No more Google maps but the old style cartography. After all I was educated as a geographer!



The Pension in Passau, was nice, not expensive and special because this winter they were flooded till the first stock. But with a lot of help they managed to be back in business. A nice room, a garage for the bicycle and a warm shower, plus Fruhstuck! Can you wish for more?

Tonight some further planning and tomorrow downstream along the Danube, which is becoming prettier now every kilometer.

From Passau the city of three rivers, the glacial Inn (green colored), the blue Danube and the Ilz (black), on to my warm showers host in Horhag.

Into Austria with a strong wind in the back the river winds more and is contained within two ranges of hills. I cross twice with smaller ferries. Cyclists all over. This Danube route is a wonderfully well-equipped touristic route.

My host Johannes Trautendorfer lives 300 meter above the Danube. A 6 kilometer climb brings me to his farm house, he is currently extending and refurbishing. I arrive hot and sweaty from the climb but satisfied.

4 september Horhag - Altenfelder - Linz

From Johannes’ farmhouse it’s back down to the Danube. Sometimes 60 km/hour and sometimes 6 to10 km/hr when it goes steep up between 10 and 11%. It’s the 3rd day and I feel my legs. But I am not in a hurry. Today is warm, but with a cooling breeze from the East.

First ferry of today is at Aschbach. The next one is a flying bridge (gierpont) without an engine. It’s only using the stream and it’s rudders.

Tonight I will spend the night in Linz. There is the yearly ARS-festival – theme of 2013 TOTAL RECALL, the evolution of memory. Tomorrow I will visit the ARS museum and be present at the opening of the festival.

Something for Eindhoven, I wonder if there are connections?

Ready to Roll

Just one day left before I am off on my two months cycling trip to Istanbul. Me and my 15 year old iron framed no frills Koga Miyata. With the tips of two of my most fanatic cycling colleagues at work, I prepared my bike. Thanks guys! The essential spare parts and a good cycling Selev helmet were bought at the local Eindhoven bicycle shop Heerings. Two Vaude packs and my old backpack to complete it all. I am leaving many things and people that are dear to me, not in the least my spouse Ameli. But two months of adventures, new places and people lay ahead of me and that's tempting. Mixed feelings, but a growing anxiety to roll!