Racing the ferry 

Kimberly appeared to bid us farewell as we were packing the bikes.  She explained that she has been running her Airbnb for three years, largely without competition until another BnB opened last year.  She is also expanding her accommodation options, as Grein is the perfect stopping point for the increasing number of cyclists on the EV6. Though she thought we might be the first guests this year to use the kitchen. 

We stopped in the town to buy morning tea and lunch provisions before heading to the ferry to cross the river and save 4kms of cycling.  Once we determined we would need to wait for the next crossing, we decided to cycle anyway, and it was an easy ride across the bridge. G raced the ferry but didn’t win – in part because we delayed our departure until we were sure we wouldn’t be able to embark.  

After looking back towards Grein, we continued on, passing Burg Werfenstein in the hillside.  There were lots of other cyclists on the route, including groups of school kids.  I had a narrow miss when another cyclist tried to overtake me as I moved to the centre of the path to avoid a cluster of students who had stopped on the edge of the path.

Our morning tea stop was in a nice, shady spot on the edge of the river in Ybbs, near a large Kaplan turbine and opposite a cycling museum. Our route stayed close to the river and we made good time to Pochlarn where we found another sheltered place for lunch.

We had been wondering where all the river boats were, and spotted three headed up river after lunch.  A little further on we saw the large lock that would fit three river boats, with one about to exit the lock.  Above it we could see Melk Abbey, the landmark of our destination for the next two nights.  The Abbey was most impressive close up, and we plan to visit it tomorrow.  

As it is a public holiday tomorrow, we needed to ensure enough food for two days so spent some time stocking up in the Eurospar before checking into our accommodation.  

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