Day 13 Wallsee to Weissenkirchen - 55 Miles



We departed from Wallsee heading east to Weissenkirchen...
...mostly hugging the Donau (Danube), except for occasional forays through villages or around building works.


Although a misty morning and cloudy sky, the views across the Danube were very fine.
A few bizarre buildings.
Lots of squash of all different kinds.
We passed through the Strundengau Valley...
...travelling at a leisurely pace on our penultimate day.
A final brew stop (tomorrow will be a café)...
...and some M&Ms (3.5 kCal per M&M). Not sure my cycling has offset my M&M consumption.
We stopped for a rubbish coffee in Ybbs (failed to find the nice coffee shop round the corner). 

 Unusual name, Ybbs. Pity they don't include proper nouns in scrabble.
It boased a cycle museum but no time to visit as we had a planned break in Melk.
Our coffee shop platitude matched the plastic tulip on the table.
Back on course, following the Donauradweg (Danumbe cycle path) from Ybbs to Melk.
Industry seemed more visible in Austria.
In contrast, the town of Melk boasted a chocolate box design, dwarfed by a huge Benedictine abbey...
...with courtyard after courtyard.
Originally built in 930, but with lots of rebuilds.

The centrepiece of this abbey is the library, its main hall containing around 16,000 volumes
St Peter's church in the centre represents the apotheosis of high baroque.

The inscription on the altar, “NON CORONABITUR NISI LEGITIME CERTAVERIT” - “Without a legitimate battle there is no victory”
Coloman's Courtyard 
According to legend a king’s son, Coloman, from Ireland on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, was martyred in 1012 near Vienna. 

In this dangerous border area he was suspected of espionage. He came under suspicion because of his strange language and clothing, and was then imprisoned, tortured, and finally hanged from a dead elder tree.

A series of subsequent miracles following his death, then led to his burial at Melk and sainthood.
Melk and the surrounding countryside is known for apricots. 
We indulged in the ice cream and the sorbet.
Lederhosen, a bargain!
Leaving Melk, we headed along the river for our final 16 miles...
...following a well-surfaced and signposted bike path...
...to meet the river and, for some of us, cross over by ferry...
...as others were sleeping on the other bank.
Germans and Austrians were interested in chatting with us wherever we went.

Some expressing a strong wish for us to remain in the EU.
Commercial traffic transports huge loads along the Rhine and Danube, a boat shifting up to 11,000 tons compared with only 24 tons by lorry.
My bike, although a heavy steel frame beast, can get up some real speed on the flat (thanks Robert for the action photo).
We arrived in Weissenkirchen to a televised baroque horn ensemble.
Really beautiful sound.
Looked like a really difficult instrument to play. Older musicians making up most of the group, but...
...some younger players also.
I tried to look them up but couldn't find them on the web.
Our penultimate tour night in this very pretty large village...
...and attractive accommodation.
We found a family run wine bar offering local wines, fabulous cheese plates and apricot chutney (of course). Even the schnapps was apricot. Could stay here for a few days.

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