Down the Danube VI

A short but eventful day!

We set off from Melk with only around 40km to ride and planned to stop to see the castle at Durnstein. Before we reached there, we encountered another tempting castle 300m above the road on a cliff. The guide book advised "20% hill, you will have to get off and push." This was too much of a challenge for 3 of our party (guess who?!) and they set out, leaving the rest of us to cycle on and find a beach to paddle in the Danube. They attained the top and saw the castle, then raced to catch us up for a picnic lunch.

In the afternoon we went to Durnstein castle where Richard I was held for ransom in 1193. We would have photos, but there was a tremendous thunderstorm and we got drenched on the way down. With much hilarity, we put on dry clothes in a covered medieval staircase to the horror of a passing Japanese tour party!

Then it was on the Krems, where the sun was shining, and we had coffee and cake on the ancient main street.

Onward on Friday to Tulln. We've now covered 260km.