Day 17: Fri 4 Jul - Bratislava to Vienna, 72km; moving time: 4h15; total time: 6h15

17-26 deg C, a little bit cool and overcast this morning in Bratislava with a slight headwind on and off all day, a few spots of rain on arrival in Vienna, sunny in patches

Ride: 72km; total: 501km

Walk G: 5km; total: 135km

Walk W: 4km; total: 134km

We knew we had at least 67km to ride today, so we were up and at breakfast earlier than usual. Hit the bike path at 8:15am heading straight into a headwind! It wasn’t too bad and we did have periods of relief. Highlights of the day included riding over the 2km bridge and on under pass bike bridges coming into Vienna, including a spiral ramp; thank goodness we didn’t have to use the one to go down on the other end of the bridge! Greg had fun while Wendy found it a little daunting. 

Although we saw some nice countryside and crops today, there wasn’t much else. Mainly due to the fact that the path (brilliant as it was) was on top of a levee bank, which went on forever. In fact one straight stretch was 22km long! Eventually Greg spotted a sign for a Schloss (Castle), so we detoured for mornos, about 1.5km. It was worth the effort as the setting was quite peaceful, shady, and out of the wind. 

Onwards we rode, until we reached Prater Park, Vienna, a huge expanse of green in an otherwise very built up city, where we had lunch. Check in was not until 4pm, so we waited until it would be after 2pm when we arrived at the hotel Hilton Vienna Park. Lucky for us the room was ready. Wendy had already checked-in on line and even got to choose a room #1018, that sort of overlooks Stadtpark. Greg loved this park on his previous two visits, it was pristine, immaculately maintained and quite beautiful. But upon walking through it today he was bitterly disappointed. “They” had turned it into a real dump, the art work and the beautiful old walls are now covered in graffiti and the whole thing is a mess. Why would the authorities allow such a thing to happen?

We unpacked, washed, had a rest, then went looking for dinner. We found a shopping centre/mall almost opposite the hotel so went into the food court where we found an Asian joint. We were both pretty peckish so went ordered, ate, and left feeling satisfied.

While Greg went for a post dinner wander, he was here in 2009 & 11 and wanted to get his bearings, Wendy blogged. 

Tomorrow, we explore Vienna.

On the 2km bridge

At the end of the 2km bridge

Schloss Eckartsau

Goats and sheep on the side of the levee bank, we suspect they are being employed as lawn mowers

Different paths we rode today and the signage 

Underbridge bike paths

Just for cyclist, pedestrians, horses, etc

Hilton Hotel and room #1018

View from our room, the green on the other side of the bank building is Stadtpark

Dinner

Note the 🇺🇦 on the back wall of the Soviet Memorial. 

Hochstrahlbrunnen / High-pressure fountain. Opened in 1873, the water reaches up to 70m high, creating a spectacular visual display while providing refreshing coolness during summer.

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