A CYCLE TOO PERFECT
The station platform is Meidling Vienna now deserted. We were only three of us involved in the assembly of the bike. The mountain bike Fabrizio is a true spectacle, a means of high-level confessed that he paid "only" 600 € thanks to incentives.
Being in Austria, you realize it right away. As soon as we find out immediately a bike path. Beautiful, clean, perfect. The smooth road without cracks or holes. We follow the directions, our destination is Stephans Platz. The intended route for cyclists never abandons us. The Viennese pass us by all parties, here the bike along with metro and train stations is the most common means of transport ....
The beautiful Gothic church is again in front of my eyes. Ten years ago the last time I was here. I reflect on the inexorable passage of time. "Started getting old" is what I think. But nothing seems to have changed in my mind, once again ready to take a trip and all that entails. Hundreds of thousands of adventures and encounters.
After a photo of Fabrizio ritual salute. We are about to leave the city of musician for a pleasant and lively Bratislava 93 km along the bike path along Europe's most celebrated, the one parallel to the Danube.
The sun is at its maximum height. We head east in search of the watercourse. We can not see it but we know it is there, beyond the buildings and the railway that runs alongside. We are now at the edge of the city. Here it is, finally a bridge, past the railway headquarters and find ourselves on the river bank.
A dam, right huge railway goods yard that serves as a logistic center. Fortunately, the iron is preferred here to use road transport. A bridge and find ourselves on the other side or what we think. But no. We are on an island in the vast river. We see men and women in water, others for sunbathing and here's the surprise. They are all naked, and, unexpectedly, we are in a sort of nudist beach. We continue with some embarrassment, spinning on our way with no or almost distracting.
Finally, here it is, after losing about half an hour we have embarked. The path that will lead us to the Slovakian capital. The sign lists the various distance and number six in the European circuit EuroVelo that will take us up to Budapest. Packed with hot dogs and beer in one of several kiosks located along the route. There are two young British company who make our own way.
The fund continues to be good, grind miles and we have sown the subjects of his majesty. The sun baked our faces, we begin to take the typical tan cyclists or even bricklayers. There we should get used because the heat and the sun never abandons us during the trip.
The long bridge never seems to end, the majesty of the river is impressive. We come the pretty Hainburg an Donau, Bratislava in the distance, less than 20 km. The cycle is interrupted, continue on Highway 9 for a while then there it is again. We will pass by cultivated fields and the railway that catches my attention. Single circuit track, look at the contact line and suspension ... small professional bias.
On our right is the old border, now abandoned. It has a certain effect to see a customs which was the iron curtain to lie in a state of disrepair. Without even notice it but we are in the Slovak Republic even if the road makes us feel this way. The latest effort is to cross the bridge again and then we are in full center.
Housed in a lovely hostel and after a refreshing shower we deserved the initial calculation. We are pleased to have ended the stage in just over 5 hours with an average of 18 km. Better than what we expected. Are you a good morning starts in the morning that we could not improve.
Use the bike lane was nice and safe but that did not allow us to get in touch with local people to pass through tiny villages, to meet unexpected despite the dozens and dozens of cyclists cross. Today has certainly been useful, but from tomorrow we will evaluate whether to proceed or continue on the highways.
The day draws to a close, we leave for excursion to the city. The narrow streets of the old town and the pleasant tree-lined Hviezdoslavovo, the castle and the port of San Michele, a short time but we can see everything.
dinner with local beers and tasty bryndzové halusky, the legendary dumplings served with goat cheese and Lardini abbrustolini, which for years was hoping to stay. Next to us two Germans who will guzzle beer, a chat and a drink with friends then we give ourselves in front of a local event to end the evening, but we meet again.
