18th May (fine and mild) 70km

Covert computer charging (or as we like to call it in the industry, triple C), began at first light……well not really…..more like 6.30am and first light is about 5.30am.  So into the nice warm drying room to have breakfast while plugging in for some free power.  We took turns guarding while the other one packed and vice versa and left camp with a mostly charged computer about 9.30am.

First stop was a camping shop down the road for some of our specialised camping gas, which they stocked!  We bought a big size one for the same price we got our small size one for when we first left Lindau.  Then we planned a quick stop at Tourist Info to pick up a more detailed cycling map but it wasn’t as quick as we’d hoped as we had a couple of people wanting to talk to us about our trip.

Finally got going in a south-easterly direction to Salzburg following mostly bike paths.  It was delightful countryside round here with very few hills which always makes the riding more pleasant.  As did the sunshine!  It was nice to see it again after an absence of about five days.  There was still a cool breeze however so even though we busted out the shorts, the sweatshirts mainly stayed on throughout the day.

By 11.30am we were crossing the river and the border into Salzburg, Austria.  We stopped at a supermarket for the necessaries to make ourselves lunch and then spied a deserted kid’s playground where we ate our lunch.  We noticed in a far corner of the playground there was a mattress and some bedding stuffed in beside a shed with a bottle of orange juice beside it, so it looks like someone was sleeping rough there – although by the look of that mattress, not as rough as us!

Thirty years ago we cycled almost completely around Salzburg, never going into the city as by then we had had enough of big cities.  Trying to find our way into the centre of this one where all the old buildings are, reminded us of why we had made that seemingly mad decision all those years ago.  Impatient and fast flowing traffic, bad areas of town that made you just want to get out, hustle, bustle and nothing much of interest along the way.  It was like Salzburg had made itself an impenetrable fortress and you had to break through the walls of mediocrity on the outskirts before you got to experience the beauty inside.

Salzburg - WOW!

We both agreed when we got our first view of the old town, it had been well worth the effort to get there.  I’m so glad the old town seems to stand alone with not too many signs of modernisation to detract from its beautiful historic buildings.  

As we walked over the bridge into town (which has a zillion locks locked to it in that modern-day romantic gesture where a couple put their lock on the bridge and throw the key into the river to symbolise undying love) a man was playing a piano accordion.  He was busy playing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” but switched to “Just One Cornetto” as we approached so we couldn’t help but burst into song much to his delight and amazement.

After cycling through the area we stopped by Tourist Info to use the free wifi and upload yesterday’s blog.  Then we treated ourselves to an ice-cream and sat in the sun at the side of the river, looking over at the city – beautiful!

Then it was time to head north, using the river as our guide.  We had cycle track all the way so it was very stress-free riding. 

One last look as we leave Salzburg - beautiful!!!

However, at one point we heard numerous gunshots in the hills and hoped they weren’t taking pot shots at the tourists!

Cycling by the river was lovely

As we cycled north, leaving the Alps behind us, it was singlet and shorts weather.....for awhile

Riverside cycle track

At Laufen we asked about a campground and were told about one 5km away in a SouthWest direction.  That seemed to be the only option so we diverted to it, only to find when we got there at 6.30pm, it was still closed and hadn’t even opened yet for this summer.  So we cycled up the road a bit where there appeared to be a youth camp and camped in a nearby field.  The kids saw us but we didn’t think anyone would mind seeing as the campground was closed.

Made a delicious dinner of chilli con carne with a bit of pasta and weisswurst (white sausage) chopped into it – delicious!!  Followed that with some jam buns, biscuits and a cup of coffee and a bit of chocolate.