Friday 17th October 2014 - Rained all night. Up to have a look out in daylight. Coming in and putting up tent in the dark and rain, not sure what the surroundings are like. It's like a surprise for the morning.
Camped under the castle of Grein.
Rain rain rain.
Showered.
Still raining heavily. Puddles everywhere. Tent nearly floating. Ducks now wandering around the campingplatz.
Vislof suggested going to tour the castle, as he didn't want to ride in rain and it was something to do rather than sit in a restaurant. I said I was going to pack up and head on. Only water after all. Everything was soaked anyway and no point wasting a day sitting looking at the rain.
He decided he was coming then too. He said he was going to remember this day for the next 20 years!!
Lots of layers and the waterproofs on and off we went. Waved at the family as we left Grein, they were staying put for the day.
It continued to pour down. The cycle path was beside the road so we were getting the spray from the passing cars and lorries as well.
Foamy knees on my waterproof trousers from spilled washing liquid a couple of weeks ago and the repetitive turning of the pedals made me chuckle.
Vislof was in front and I couldn't stop laughing at how ridiculous we must've looked and how much he probably wished he hadn't have come. We swaped at 10km.
Coming through Weins 15km later I lost him. Waited. 10 minutes past, so I turned back and found him in a bus shelter. Needed a rest, high blood pressure at 270 two years ago, so he needs to take things easy. We chatted for about half an hour. So funny because he sometimes gives completely random answers to some questions I ask him, as he doesn't understand me. So I've simplified my speaking to sentences of only a few keys words!
He rides a 20 year old bike, nothing fancy, with a bit of blue plastic covering his computer and his water bottle is an empty bottle of shop bought water filled with tea, coffee and sugar!
2km later I had passed the 3000km mark, yeow!!
Another stop at a shop in the next town. Sheltered in trolley bay. He spoke German so was able to have the banter with everyone coming to do their shopping. They all said tomorrow will be sunny!
On we went. Crossed the Danube and saw the massive impressive monestry at Melk. A lot of tour boats also docked here.
No camping. So crossed the bridge and found a camp ground in Emmersdorf, on the other side.
5.30pm. Reception was meant to be open from 7-8pm. Vislof went to see prices for rooms at hotel beside campsite. €66 cheapest. Not a chance. Pitched tents then went into the town to the local gasthof for dinner. Beef, gravy and potatoes mmmm. I love these gasthofs. The reception person never turned up.
Mentioned I'd push on tomorrow, as we only did less than 50km today and I need to do more than that each day.
Will see where I get to tomorrow, hopefully to a campsite just before Vienna.
Day 49 - 17.10.14
Grein to Melk, Austria
12.30pm to 5.30pm
2hr 47min cycling
48.7km
1202 calories
293 metres asc
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