Arriving in the big city of Passau

I think last night's hotel - the Landhotel St Florian - was probably the worst we've stayed in. Most hotels we've stayed in have been fine, but this one had NO internet (in the evening, in the morning I was able to get a little internet), wasn't that clean, AND had an annoying fly situation. Hmm...maybe that's why it still had rooms available...

Anyway, we got on the road by 9 am, and then spent some time walking around nearby Schaerding, which is a beautiful little Baroque town. I was a little nervous about leaving our things on the bike (we have just one little bag each, that we strap to the back rack), but considering the wimpy locks that people use, to lock up their bikes, I think the theft problem in general isn't very bad. We had a little tourist map of town, and walked most of it. Here's some pictures of around town.

Relaxing in the town square

It is definitely apricot season!

Peter leading the way

This little cage was used to dunk bakers in the Inn, ones that supposedly cheated their customers

High water levels through the years

The main market square

I remember this little alley from coming here with my aunt and uncle. The cobblestones were formerly much rougher - now they're smoothed over with concrete.

We bought a few items for a picnic lunch (rolls, apples, cheese), and then headed down the bike path again. It's still almost all gravel, but we're starting to see larger groups of bikers - tour groups.

The weather is absolutely lovely for biking - nice and cool, a high in the low 70's. Best day yet. We only have about 20 k to our hotel in Passau, which is a modern mini-room hotel called Rotel Inn.

Here's a few pictures from along the way.

Vornbach Abbey

Some selfies just shouldn't be taken...

Around Neuburg

The first bike tour group we saw

An amazing huge swing at a trailside playground

This bike has been here a while - note the vines on it

We arrived at the hotel around  2 - even though it was a short bike ride, we took our time. The rooms really are tiny - only the width of a double bed - but I'm be happy to try something different. It's also about half the price, and right off the bike trail.

Here in Passau, I've heard my first American accent since we've been in Austria. There's a lot of Danube river tours that stop here for the day. It seems like a hip, active city, it has a  university, and people are definitely "citified" compared to where we've been biking through recently. But - no grocery stores! I've really been wanting to buy some fruit - probably a reaction against all the sausage  meals - and the only groceries in the city are tiny little organic-only places.

But Passau is a really fun place to walk around, lots of beautiful little alleys to walk around, and stately old buildings to see. There's a strange lack of drinking water fountains - lots of fountains, but they all say "kein Trinkwasser" - not drinking water. Strange.

We even - finally - found a EuroShop - everything for one Euro, just like a dollar store. They had an outstanding selection - better than dollar stores in the US. Peter got a little headset for his phone, and I may go back there and buy a pair of scissors - need to trim my bangs.

Our tiny room

A Tauck tour boat

Peter found some kids to play with at the playground

One of the many river tour boats