After a long day waiting for the Bus, I’m now onboard the FlixBus heading from Budapest to Düsseldorf. My bike safely behind the bus on a bike carrier. It’s quite dark as we speed west for 18 hours with stops along the way. We should reach Passau as dawn breaks.
So, here are some sleepless thoughts on cycling two of the great European Rivers, the Rhine and the Donau (aka Danube).
Neither one was particularly hard, and in fact probably down right easy on a e-bike. In deed a number of the guest houses had electrical outlets all set for them. At times on the Donau, it was easier to count the non e-bikes as they were far fewer in number than the e-bikes.
Excepting the climb between the two rivers, the hard parts had more to do with wind and road surfaces which were perfect in Austria and the opposite in Hungary.
If I had to choose one particular part, it would be the Austrian Danube section to Vienna. Truely iconic with superb scenery, great paths, wonderful guest houses, bicycle campgrounds and lots of beer gardens. The only thing missing was Julie Andrews singing about the hills being live with the sound of music.I’d rate that section alongside northern Norway as my two top cycle touring areas – Although I chose each for very different reasons! However that’s not being fair to the rest of the trip as all parts were great. That is until the approaches to Budapest. So!
Best Bridge
Best Meal
Best Campground
Best Moment
Next – back across Holland and England to London