I woke up around eight o’clock this morning after sleeping relatively well for the first night tenting. I only rolled over 134 times.
For this adventure, I purchased a new Sea to Summit sleeping pad and a sheet that slips over it. I’m also carrying two inflatable pillows that I bought cotton cases for. It’s a little slice of home and, I think, a big upgrade over last summer’s situation. Small comforts matter when spending large amounts of time in a tent.
Due to the fact that I enjoy writing a bit each day, I want to take a look at a folding Bluetooth keyboard that can be used with my iPhone. I’m not sure if it will pan out for this trip, but maybe next time. Some fold in thirds - a lightweight solution, for sure.
The cycling from our campsite to Bratislava was fantastic. We were met with fields of wheat growing on wide open spaces. An 80’s mix played through my new handlebar speaker. Oncoming riders seemed offended.
In the city, we booked a room at Patio Hostel. At just under 18€, why not? The room had a private bathroom and two bunk beds. I made the bed, showered and napped. I was unable to open the soap provided.
In the evening, the four of us wandered through Bratislava. A brew by the waterfront was followed by a Kebab and chocolate in the old town area. I purchased a spork and a large water bottle at Decathlon. This was the second time I’ve forgotten to bring an eating utensil to the EU. It set me back 1€.
As the evening wound down, we shared a touching moment listening to Queen’s "Love of My Life" (both live and studio versions).
We’re back on the road! This time around, Kelley and I are traveling with Charlie Snelling and Isaac Hall, two local Island boys up for an adventure. Of course, I’ve cycled with Charlie in the past on the Pacific Coast.
We left Hostel Ruthensteiner at about 11:30 this morning bound for an unknown campsite, somewhere between Vienna and Bratislava.
Feeling our way through the streets of Vienna went remarkably well, considering it was our first day on the bikes and urban areas tend to cross me up.
We found the Danube River and spotted the EuroVelo 6 route sign. Did we ever leave?
Outside of Vienna, we cycled for a mile along side a nude beach. I really haven’t witnessed something this expansive in the States. Everyone appeared comfortable. I need to try this.
The day was cooler than the previous three days, a huge relief. We cycled over fifty kilometers, much more than I anticipated. I have a feeling the saddle will take some getting used to tomorrow. It takes about seven to ten days to really become accustomed to this amount of movement. I’ll be patient with myself as I work through the transition.
One big highlight, which I hope to continue, was out first afternoon Danube dip. We all went in to cool off in a little backeddy at the end of a boat launch. Not wanting to get my cycling shorts wet, I stripped and put on my new Speedo. I’m getting accustomed to it. I’m not sure anyone else is.
The Batavus is running well, with the exception of an intermittent whine coming from, I think, the rear derailleur. It seemed to subside a bit by the end of the day. Maybe she softened up over the winter months. Maybe we both did. We’ll see how it goes.
Close to seven o’clock, Charlie met up with a German cyclist who led us to a hotel in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg. After pulling into the parking lot, a woman let us know that she had accommodations. When asked the price, she wrote down 40€ per person. This amounts to about $50 US. The group was at a standstill as to what to do.
It was decided that we would stop at a little park, have a bite and talk. I knew that we had to make a decision due to the fact that it was after eight o’clock. Charlie decided to take the room, and Kelley, Isaac and I opted for trying our luck down the route. This was the best decision because everyone was able to get what they wanted.
THIS TRIP IS MAGIC! Sure enough, within five minutes of starting to cycle, a touring couple from Vienna pulled up along side of us and offered to take us to a FREE campsite on the other side of the river. We retraced our pedal strokes, following them to a nice campsite not far away. After thanking the couple, we quickly set up our tents and dove inside to avoid the mosquitoes.
It’s true that the trip couldn’t have started any other way.
For this entry, I’ll hit some highlights for the time before embarking on our cycling trip. The next few days will be an exploration of Vienna.
On Saturday, I explored the Upper Belvedere Palace and the gardens between the upper and lower palaces. My main objective was to view the largest collection of Gustav Klimt’s work. "The Kiss" was the main attraction and drew constant attention. I found it pleasing to gaze upon it at and angle that reflected the gold he used in the work.
The evening was capped by an exploration of side streets near Saint Stephen’s Cathedral. I enjoyed listening in on some experimental jazz at Porgy and Bess.
Sunday brought a trip to the University of Vienna Business Campus for a look at the architecture. The library was space age, something out of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The entire campus was a work of art. The food truck burrito was good, but rather bland.
I the evening, we had planned on listening to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Dates were crossed up, and we flowed with our freedom, finding a small jazz bar called the Drakon. This stop proved to be quite enjoyable and we stayed for about an hour to listen. The white couch near the rear was comfortable and all parties seemed to completely enjoy themselves.
Monday, I set my sites on the Sigmund Freud Museum. I wanted to learn a bit more about the man having read his book "Civilization and its Discontents" in college. The place where he and his family lived was under major renovation. The museum was being temporarily housed in another small building during the interim. What I read and saw was fascinating. I’d like to learn more about the man’s thoughts pertaining to the human condition.
Later, I wandered Vienna, finally finding a resting spot at the Burggarten. A nap ensued. What better way to spend a portion of a vacation?
Tuesday was a day to assemble the final pieces of the fellowship. Kelley arrived at about midnight.
The morning was spent showing Isaac the different local bicycles available for purchase. The afternoon found us on the street with tea / coffee and light fare. I purchased a new helmet.
We wandered in the evening, escaping the heat inside air conditioned tram cars.
Wednesday brought new bikes for both Isaac and Kelley. Both chose Hallvard brand bicycles from Sports Direct, a large sporting goods place two blocks away. Small purchases were made by all to enhance their machines. I bought a bungee-type cord for my rear rack.
The evening started with song around the piano in the hostel bar. Daisy, a young Brit, played Beatles hits. A request for "Let it Go" from the Frozen soundtrack brought people to a new level.
After light chat, a German youth suggested we play "Cereal Box", a game which one has to pick up a cardboard box with their teeth without touching the ground with anything other than their feet. After each round, those who were able to accomplish the feat were challenged again with picking up the same box, only that it was torn further down to reduce its size. At the end, a select few were sucking the bottom of the box right off the floor. Nothing in my body, but I’m horribly sore. It’s pretty interesting hanging with a younger crowd; there are times in which I feel my age a bit. :)
A small group of us walked the neighborhood streets until four in the morning. Tomorrow I’ll catch up with a nap.
Thursday was a day to finish setting up the bicycles. I installed my handlebar bag, adjusted the rear panniers on the rack and fixed the speaker mount to the front. Fresh batteries went into the front headlight and I bought a couple of new inner tubes. I do need another water bottle, but that will present itself in due time.
After breakfast, I leaned a new game called "Ninja". A group stands in a circle and, with one movement (and taking turns) tries to slap other people’s hands. It’s a real duel to the death. I tried to channel Bruce Lee, remembering his quote about water.
A long nap was followed by my push-up workout and a shower. Many people assembled for a quiz game in the evening. The team was on came very close to winning. I crossed up the founding date of Hostel Ruthensteiner by one year.
After breakfast, Charlie and I spent the better part of the morning looking at the available bike options for the trip. We started at Sports Direct, a chain store on Mariahilfer Street, just three minutes from Hostel Ruthensteiner. There, we encountered the Muddyfox, a bargain bicycle priced between 225 and 275 €. These 18 speed steel bikes came with both racks and fenders, a serious option for the rest of the group. Paint jobs were sharp. Could this be real?
Next, we hopped the subway green line to a used bike shop approximately twenty-five minutes away. There were two steel frame bikes at the place that were something to think about. One was an Italian job with a single hand and coaster break. This little gem had a internal hub with six speeds. Interesting...
Back near the hostel, Radlheim Funfhaus, a repair shop that also sold used bicycles, had just opened. I rode the Batavus there in anticipation of their ability to fix it. We entered the small sanctuary.
The bicycle priest inside immediately laid his careful hands on my machine, looking for injuries. When I had entered Vienna last year, the Batavus had a broken a spoke in front and the rear wheel was out of true. This holy man of cycling identified precisely what the bike needed (in addition, new brake pads and a general tune up) and quoted me 75 €. I left the Batavus in his care. As a side note, the "Hall of Shit" on the wall contained a Muddyfox break. Questions arose...
The afternoon involved a coffee and iced tea near the shop, then a light nap at the hostel. I picked up my Batavus around six and we headed downtown for a bite. People watching and a light sandwich near Saint Stephen’s Cathedral.
A subway ride to the canal and a stroll capped the evening.
The morning started at five o’clock. I decided to leave myself ninety minutes to get out the door and catch the bus to the ferry boat. This was followed by a ride on the Sounder train to downtown Seattle, then a short trip on Link Light Rail to SeaTac Airport. All of this transportation was really quite smooth, and cost me less than $5.00 to get to my flight.
At SeaTac, I was pleasantly surprised to see Don Zisette and his family on their way to Hawaii. Bon voyage!
I was in and out of sleep for the first part of my direct flight to London. One highlight was dipping into "Red Rising", a book Justin had loaned me some time ago. I’m already hooked on the dystopian novel. "Break the chains!" Maybe this will be a reoccurring theme.
I often like to stand on my feet in various places during long flights. I found this more challenging on Norwegian Air. While stretching by a restroom, I was told by a young steward to return to my chair. I quietly nodded, walked to the prison of my seat and reattached the shackle (seatbelt). Let me out!
Having spent a week at the end of least year’s trip in Vienna, the transportation and walk to Hostel Ruthensteiner was straight forward. I checked in, found my bed and made it.
The bed-side lockers are large, easily accommodating my two panniers and a handlebar bag. There’s an outlet inside to charge a phone or battery. Good thinking.
Later, I met Charlie downstairs in the lobby, and Elisabeth (hostel employee) led me up to me up to a storage area in a building across the street.
At the top of a staircase that opened into a dusty attic, I gazed upon my beloved Batavus. She’ll need a few fixes before hitting the road.
Charlie and I caught the subway to downtown, purchased a bit of food and found a shade tree in a park to chat under.
After about thirty minutes, clouds rolled in and a hard rain began to fall. A tree afforded some respite, but a water closet entrance was the final solution.
Later in the evening, I was exhausted but determined to stay up later to avoid the long jet lag. We road the tram to Palace Schönbrunn for the Summer Night Concert featuring the Vienna Philharmonic (free).
George Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue" rolled on for over twenty minutes - a treat for sure. Rain had cleared the air and evaporated upward from the ground as the Philharmonic filled the space. The long day of travel began to leave my mind, relaxing me to the extent that I began catching myself falling asleep on my feet.
A sweet pretzel purchase highlighted the walk / tram to the hostel. I need a transportation pass.
