Crusing the 'Dube and at last...Wien!

Could not have asked for nicer weather for the last few days of my trip.  It was so hot that I stopped several times for celebratory beers/wine along the way.  It worked out pretty well since the bike path took me through the Wachau wine region.  Plus, with lots of fruit stands along the way I didn't have to bring any more food along with me.  It actually reminded me a bit of Osoyoos and the Okanagan.  The last day also turned out to be the longest of the trip.  It beat out the trip from Cap Gris Nez to Bruges by at least 15km...I think the final total was around 145km.  Maybe a ltitle longer since I got lost in Vienna.  BUT, as it turns out, the city has great bike paths with lots of signage!  I ended up at the Prata (fairground with the biggest ferris wheel) by accident.  But after that it was easy to find my way to the house.  And that cold beer tasted pretty, pretty, pretty good!

Last day in Schoenering...picked up some nice Austiran 'cider' from the
schnapps guy.  Bottle was gone pretty fast.

First dinner on the danube...'Steckerlfisch'...translation...fish on a stick.
Mackerel and a whole bottle of Gruner Vetliner, couldn't have asked
for a better last night of the trip.

This did make it a little nicer.  INSANE clouds dancing in the sky.

Wine country.

Civilization has arrived....and with that...

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!  As soon as I get into town...flat.  That makes
4 for the whole trip.  

Prata Stern...Skywalker and the Ferris Wheel.

Final bike path to the Wald's house.  Incredible trip!

Already thinking about the cold beer.

Father and daughter accompanied me for
the last 200 metres.

A cold Puntigamer beer upon arrival...prost.

BRUTAL 10hr train ride and then finally...the danube bike path!

So getting the train proved to be more difficult than I had planned.  First off, the first train ticket I reserved...didn't allow bikes.  SO, luckily the lady didn't charge me and then found another ticket for me...which was 4 hours longer.  So I sucked it up, because it was slower I figured it would be cheaper...oh yeah, 4 Euros cheaper.  Either way, I go to get on the train the next morning...both conductors tell me the train doesn't allow bikes...even though I have a reservation for the bike.  So I run back downstairs to double-check with the ticket counter, yes bikes are allowed, run back upstairs...bikes not allowed.  I start pleading because the train leaves in 5 minutes....finally, I can take the caboose and lean the bike against the back of the train.  At least I'm on the train, that's gotta be it.  Then Luxembourg happened...they tell me that I can't book a spot for my bike on the next 2 trains I have to take.  So luckily I was able to sweet-talk the next two conductors to let me on with my bike.  I was pretty wasted by the time I finally hit the danube.

I'm on the danube...right on.

Me and Janet the day before...in the caboose.

2nd train, new spot for Janet.

The last half of the train ride went through German wine country.

Janet's last parking spot.  Ended up getting the last slot.

First day on the danube.

One of the two ferry rides I got to take.

I've been waiting for this for 2 years.  Austrian Pilsner and a mixed
salad.  Ohhhhhh man it was good.

More swans than I remember.

Touchdown Schoenering.  With new wine grapes growing up the side
of the house.

Trappist Brewery, Ypres, Gent and Brussels!

So from Bruges, ended up back tracking to West Vleteren where the Trappist Brewery is.  AGAINST THE WIND THE ENTIRE WAY!  First headwind since I turned around from St Malo, I didn't like it.  60KM TOOK 5 HOURS...anyway, the beer was well worth it.  After that, rode down to Ypres where there was SOOOOOO much history about World War 1.  Then the next day was spent in Gent.  Not too bad, Bruges was nicer, although the best beer I had in Gent.  Rochefort #6...UNBELIEVABLE!!!  Then, a full day of riding in the rain to Brussels.

Menin Gate Memorial from World War 1.  There are over 50,000 names on
the walls here.  Pretty special place.

Canadian Memorial on...wait for it...'Vancouver Corner'.

Here it is...best beer of the trip.

Actually another good thing in Gent, best fries of the trip.  Josef and
his wife have been at the same fry stand for 40 years.  

Graffiti Street in Gent...actually Gent was pretty fun.

Castle in the middle of town.  Yeah Gent's awesome.

ANNNNNND, woke up suddenly in the middle of the night with
a hedgehog trying to get into my garbage.

He got his head stuck for a while.

Leftovers from the 2 nights in Gent.

This was pretty funny.  The campsite in Brussels was almost in the middle
of town.  Turned out it was an old church that converted their garden
into a camp ground.

View of the campsite from the road...oh and ride next to the train tracks
as well.

Very unexpected, turns out Brussels Summer Music Fest was on its last
night when I got into town.  And who was on stage for the last set...
DE LA SOUL AND A BIG BAND!!!  I only caught two songs but it was
pretty awesome.

One of the churches here has a sweet music and light show at night.

No fries....but the sugar waffles were good.

Day I was leaving...saw the most amazing bug on a tree.  Its body looks
like some kind of death mask!

Last Night in Bruges...bring on the Trappists

Had a great time in Bruges.  Lots of waffles, cheese, fries, and beer.  I got a tip on one of the smaller Trappist Breweries only 50km away.  Then from there it's down the west side of the country to hit Rochefort and Chimay as well.  The others are closer to Holland so I'll just have to taste those when I get to Brussels.  Although, met some nice people last night, who were also on their bikes, and took them to De Garre (with the cheese that was so good).  There I was able to try Orval which is one of the Abbey's I won't be able to visit.....wasn't that great.

This is Fidel.  He was the mascot of the bar I was in when I got the tip on
West Vlerten Abbey.  Sweet guy.  Liked to lick my feet....(see below)

Made some new friends, Monique and Jennifer from Amsterdam.  We had a
nice evening sharing stories about festivals.  They were on their way to
their 3rd and last of the summer.  

Jane and Samson.  They had just arrived so I picked them up and took them
to De Garre....Samson was a little tipsy after the 2nd since he hadn't
eaten anything all day.  I then took him to the 'good' chip stand I tested
out the day before.  

Turns out 'Frites Special' means fries with mayo, ketchup and raw onions.

Goedenacht Bruges.