Krems - Klosterneuburg: Before the gates of Vienna
Saturday April 9, 2011, 69 km - Total so far: 339 km
Before we hit the road, we cycled Krems' cobble stone streets and had a look at its charming old part of town. Then we were off to another day of sun and a strong, cold northwest wind. Northwest was fine with us but after a while we began to feel buffeted by it even if it was helping us along. Our hosts said that according to the tv weather report the wind had reached 100 km/h in the night.
Before we hit the road, we cycled Krems' cobble stone streets and had a look at its charming old part of town. Then we were off to another day of sun and a strong, cold northwest wind. Northwest was fine with us but after a while we began to feel buffeted by it even if it was helping us along. Our hosts said that according to the tv weather report the wind had reached 100 km/h in the night.
View of Krems from the hill
In Krems
Today's bike path on the left bank took us through a pretty river landscape. But I have to admit although pretty enough, the straight path and flat surroundings became a bit monotonous after a while. In Altenwörth the path crossed the river and we found a small restaurant. Glad to be out of the wind and because it was noon, we stopped for a bowl of hot soup before we continued on to Tulln.
Bike path from Krems before we got back to the Danube
The forest floor is covered with wild garlic (Allium ursinum) at this time of year, in German Bärlauch. It's used for cooking and we often found it on the menu in the form of soup, in an omelette or as a pasta sauce.
I got my tripod out for this shot.
Much of today was like this.
Some eager beavers have been active along the Danube.
We decided to stop close to Vienna for the night, leaving only a short stretch for tomorrow before we would catch a train back to Munich. Klosterneuburg filled the bill.
The tourist office helped us find a room, warning us we would have to push our bikes a short bit up the hill to the old part of town. We gleefully pedaled up to Hotel Kranister. Our room was spacious, quiet and the furnishings a little old-fashioned. The prices seemed to go up the closer we got to Vienna and we payed 76 € including breakfast.
The tourist office helped us find a room, warning us we would have to push our bikes a short bit up the hill to the old part of town. We gleefully pedaled up to Hotel Kranister. Our room was spacious, quiet and the furnishings a little old-fashioned. The prices seemed to go up the closer we got to Vienna and we payed 76 € including breakfast.
A croissant on the hanging sign of bakery Kranister, also proprietor of our hotel.
Back out on the street, this time without our bikes as they were safely locked up for the night, we looked for a place to eat. At first it didn't seem that there was much going on in Klosterneuburg at night. But then there was this sign 'ausgesteckt' with names and addresses on it.
Ausgesteckt: The producers listed are open for wine and food
You have to know that 'ausgesteckt' indicates a 'Buschenschank'. A Buschenschank is a sort of pub or wine house run by a farmer to sell his own products, primarily wine, and only owners of vineyards or fruit orchards may operate a Buschenschank. This privilege is regulated by state law and is a specialty of wine growing areas around Vienna. We were of course delighted to be able to have our evening meal in a Buschenschank. The word bush in Buschenschank refers to the branch or part of a bush that the farmer displays on the sign over his pub, signalling that he is open for business.
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