Off to Vienna

I leave Graz and cycle up the Mur. But the day doesn't start well. There is a bike path on both sides of the Mur, mine on the left side along a busy main road, which is annoying. Only after 16 km do I switch to the beautiful, quiet side. Frohnleiten is nice and Brug with its clock tower on the mountain looks like Graz in miniature. It continues to rain until the afternoon today and I just keep going. The Mürz Valley follows to the east. The towns get smaller and the industry decreases. A highlight for me is the giant swing in Kapfenberg. After 101 km today, I find out in Langenwang that the campsite is closed. Fortunately, I can sleep alone in a 4-bed room in the Waldheimat guest village next door.

The next day will be much better, although it wants to end stupidly because the desired campsite turns out to be a stupid parking lot. But luckily I come up with something better. But first I go to Mürzzuschlag, where I take a long break to recharge my battery. Although I had plenty of outlets in the guesthouse, the battery didn't charge. I probably didn't connect it properly. In Semmering, I learn about the Southern Railway and decide to take a closer look at the bridge over the Kalte Rinne. And on Paul's tip, I drive into the Rax Valley. Here the Schwarza emerges from the karst and is very clear, great for swimming. Instead of sleeping at the uncomfortable camp by the cable car, I take the last gondola up to the Rax and find a nice spot on the Jakobskogel at 1737 m to enjoy the sunsets and sunrises. Unfortunately, there are too many clouds in the evening.

But the sunrise at 5:25 am is great. I descend at 6 and encounter 5 chamois that pose nicely and manage the 1000 m in 2½ hours. Now it gets really warm on the subsequent 98 km through the flatland along the canal and I jump exhausted into the Windradlteich just before the South Camp.

On Saturday at 10, I meet Martin Rose, who has been living in Vienna for many years. He takes me through the city all day and shows me beautiful places. Among other things, we ride the Ferris wheel at the Prater, go to the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, take the subway to the Hundertwasser Power Plant, walk to the Belvedere and through the Botanical Garden, and also ride the tram. Of course, we have to have a cold beer on the corner to end the day. 🍻 Thank you very much, Martin.

On the second day in Vienna, I ride through the city with my loaded bike: to the Danube Island, to the other Hundertwasser houses, past the Sissi cities again to the Mumok, which disappoints me a bit. Now the heat has arrived here in Vienna too, and like many others, I'm drawn to the Old Danube for a refreshing swim. It's only 15 km to the camp in Klosterneuburg, so I can enjoy a quiet afternoon.