We had an easy ride today, longish but very flat and relaxing. And we ended the day with a wonderful meal at a farm restaurant in Zwentendorf, meeting some great people who really made us feel welcome.
We rose early to sunshine and another beautiful day . . . but then, every day on a bike is a beautiful day! It was easygoing but for some trail improvements at about MP 6, which is always a good thing to see. And while the detour routing could have been a bit more clear, it wasn't hard to follow the river, even when not on the trail.
Trail improvements near Marbach an der Donau. This is a little beyond the real construction zone, which had the trail completely closed and trail traffic directed onto the adjacent, but busy, roadway.
There are opportunities to cross to the other bank, which has a bike trail as well. This circular ramp represents a lot of money spent to make a trail connection. Good for Austria!
Actually, as we progressed, the road became easy to ride along, and shortly before Weitenegg, I decided to take a detour through the village rather than continue along the river. I think I was getting bored looking at the river and river landscape and wanted to see more "living."
. . . and even smaller villages. This is Groisbach. Our course actually took us across the lakeside road, a predictably busy road, to the far side to make this visit.
Groisbach required a bit of climbing, and we stayed up higher than the lakeside road for the next ten miles or so, affording us some nice views of the river and river traffic.
Our first "birds-eye" view of river traffic on the Danube and the mountains ahead.
Right before we arrived in Zwentendorf, we crossed the river to the south (or right) bank, and I was able to witness another lock operation . . . but this time for a larger boat! Plus, we had a better view!
Not long afterward, we were in Zwentendorf, after biking right past a nuclear power plant . . . without really knowing it! It crossed our minds, and it sort of looked like one but was clearly old and not in use, if, in fact, it really was one. Which it was. The first (and last) nuclear power plant in Austria. Which we learned more about over dinner.
And next, dinner! A great dinner! There are not many places to eat in Zwentendorf. In fact, only three, of which two were suspect. Our hotel proprietor recommended a place not far away, so off we traipsed . . . to what looked like a residential neighborhood. But with some poking around, I found the place, down a "driveway" and around the back corner of a house. And what a crowd! At least 20 tables, each of which could seat eight or more, and all mostly full! They also had an interior seating area with more tables, but it was empty, being such a beautiful night!
So almost immediately, at one table, people slid down and made room for me. Boy, was I tempted, but Jerry and Happy showed up behind me, and Jerry dismissed it, with good reason, as several people were smoking. OK, we can find another table . . . but not in Europe, especially one that is really truly smoke-free. And I did not want us to eat inside by ourselves . . . so Jerry and Happy were ready to move on, and I followed them for a short while before stopping myself and saying, "You know what, I want to eat here. It just looks like too much fun." So we said our goodbyes, and I went back to that first table, where I was again welcomed to sit down.
What a blast we had! And by "we," this time I mean me, the native Austrians I had joined, and Happy, who changed his mind as well and joined us soon after. Fortunately, Doris was fluent in English, and her male friend was partially fluent, and "the smoker," who was from Vienna, was less so. She graciously moved to the end of the table, although the smoke made no difference to me (or Happy). We were there for the food and fun of meeting new people!
And we had a great time indeed. Doris and her friend ordered all of our food (with consultation, of course), and there were no mistakes! This is a farm restaurant known Heurigen & Weinbau Maurer. They even have a Facebook page. The night was beautiful, as was the food . . . and here are the pictures to prove it, and only 30 euros for two of us.
Our new Austrian friends: Doris in the upper right, her male friend across the table from her, and her friend from Vienna on her left. I am barely visible on the lower left!
