Day 1. Tue Aug 4. Vienna(Austria) to Bratislava (Slovakia)

Distance: 67 km

Time: 3 hrs 25 min.

Speed: 19.6km/hr

Climbed: 543 ft

AHR (Average Heart Rate) 110 bts/min

Cum Distance: 67 km

Cum Climbed: 543 ft.

All bags loaded this morning at 6.30. Route briefing at 6.45 and breakfast at 7. I felt anxious to get on the road. This waiting about for the last few days is unnerving for me. There were some last minute adjustments to be made especially for bikes that had just arrived on Monday and had been reassembled. Still we were all ready to pull out at 8 am. Even at this hour it was ferociously warm and with a promise to get even warmer during the day. It did but we were spared wind.

Being a bit involved it was to decided to pull out of Vienna in convoy for the first 10 km and then for people to cycle at their own pace. Ther were plenty of other cyclists on the city’s wonderful cycle tracks as we crossed over to the north bank of the Danube and swung right downstream.

We gradually moved out of sight of the river as we cycled through a Nature Reserve with plenty of wildlife to be seen. The Danube Track moves along on the top of a levee, sometimes sealed and sometimes just grit.

The speedsters moved on but I was satisfied to stay with that bunch that moved on at a pretty regular 22 or 23 kms/hr. I fell in with various people as we moved along, with Cathy (US), with Peter (Belfast) and with Judy (US) as we entered Bratislava.

After 42 km we crossed over an impressive bridge at Heineburg to the south bank.

   

Here our route moved through lots of cultivated land on either side. As we passed through the fields Bratislava Castle (Hrad Bratislava) appeared in the distance.

Just short of Bratislava we crossed the border into Slovakia. 

The old border-post buildings and parking lot are all abandoned. With Slovakia being in the Schengen area there is no passport control.

Just after crossing the border, Oskur had our lunch ready by the red van....with shade and stools and plenty of fresh refreshment. T’was nice to rest for a while even though was a short day.

From here Judy and I cycled the last kms together. At various turns we had wonderful views of the Castle and of  SNP bridge (or commonly referred to as the UFO bridge).

Cyclists (not of our group) were at pains to take selfies with the bridge appearing as extensions of their thumb!

We cycled across on the bike lane (underneath) and had a super view both of the Castle above and out Botel on the water. We are really staying smack in the centre of the city. It was now just after mid-day and a shower was most welcome in our cabin on the port side.

No organised meeting (briefing for tomorrow's route) till 5.45, so everyone headed up to the various touristy spots of this city of over 400,000 inhabitants.

In the centre there’s plenty of outlets catering for the tourist. I walked through this and right on to the more local section with everyday shops. Plenty of heavy trams rumbling along, a reminder of days gone by.

I circled about and up to the Castle...a nice walk in this heat. Lots of tour groups were up there pouring out of their AC tour buses and following their flag-waving guides.

There had been a castle here from time immemorial it after 1526 it became the seat of the Kings of Hungary. In 1811 it was burned down but restored in 1953. Today it regularly hosts exhibitions. The trek down (by a different route) was a more relaxing affair.

Before I left the centre of town and after consulting my map I decided to drop into St Martins Cathedral (the oldest and most impressive around) to say a prayer of thanks to The Lord for the safe cycle. But a door charge of Euro 2.50 just to go in put me off and so I just sent Him a text!

I had a most relaxing few hours in this city....couldn’t visit all the places on the Tourist To-Do list but I got a flavour.

Our bikes are parked up by the boat-rail tonight and mine is secured with a heavy lock and chain. George impressed on us yesterday (at the new riders briefing) the need for strong bike security. It isn’t a lock for transporting around on the bike so it goes ahead with my daily luggage. I have a lighter cable-lock for day use.

So an enjoyable first day on the trail. Glad that we are moving.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.