Spittal a.d. Drau

July 31, 2019

We have left the high mountains

I had spent part of last night worrying. I knew that to get to Bockstein to catch the train through the mountains we still had some serious climbing to do and the arrows on the map didn’t look very encouraging,

Breakfast was at 7.30 and the train we were aiming for went at 9,20. There is only one way to get to the other side of the mountains from there and that is by a shuttle train that takes people, bikes and cars - there is no road at all. As usual with things I fuss about the gradient didn’t seem quite as vicious this morning and we reached the train station at the end of the road just as a lovely German couple from Heidelberg were arriving. There is quite a rigmarole, the train from the other direction arrives, it unloads then when that is complete you are permitted to buy tickets - E5 a bike. Then you cycle back to the station and the waiting train and everyone is loaded.. There were about 20bikes on our load and lots cars. the actual journey only takes 12minutes . It was a journey of happy people and there we were at Mallnitz high on the other side of the mountain.

The cars were off like a flash and we were left. The first 8km was on road and is about the steepest downhill I have ever ridden, we needed to put coats on and it felt exhilarating.

When we got to the valley bottom we thought we would just continue downhill at a more gentle rate but that wasn’t to be. The cycle route thought it would be fun to avoid the road and put us up and down the valley sides through pretty little working villages with no services. Ken was getting a bit sick of it then the valley widened and our way became flat, We came to a lake where we ate our lunch then on through wonderfully productive cropping land of wheat, barley and hugely tall corn. We are now following the Drau Radweg and we saw rafters hurtling down the still flooded river

This donkey was very confused because ther was a robot law mower buzzing around his paddock

The corn was as high as an elephants eye. It must have been a pretty big elephant

Spittal is a small town and we were able to find our ‘adequate’ hotel easily

Today's ride: 50 km (31 miles)
Total: 346 km (215 miles)

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Eveline & John WinthropThis must surely be a trip of a lifetime for you! Scenery is spectacular, and your photos are great.
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4 years ago

Tricia GrahamTo Eveline & John WinthropIt is certainly spectacular and awe inspiring country. A much more normal day today just following along the Drau river
Love
K and P
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4 years ago