Today we started by crossing the Danube. Um, that was yesterday wasn’t it? No, it was definitely today. We crossed the Danube yet again at the very start of the ride, leaving Bratislava and Slovakia in general behind us.

This is day 3, country 3. It’s remarkable how different the countries have been. Slovakia certainly seems the most run down, with the countryside tangled and the roads decaying. Hungary sits comfortably in the middle, but Austria. Ah, Austria. Land beloved by cyclists far and wide, with pristine countrysides, neat homes, manicured gardens and roads maintained by Monty Pythons four Yorkshiremen. I had always imagined that the comedy sketch was set in, well, Yorkshire. But it’s here in Austria where they get up half an hour before going to bed, eat a handful of cold gravel and clean the road on the way to the mill – wi’ tongue! And pay mill owner (read the roads dept) for the privilege of working there.

Indeed, the roads are as if the have been carefully laid, nurtured and tended lovingly, just waiting for a cyclist to come along. Cyclist love good tar. And we had it in abundance. From the super smooth darkest black (almost slick) though the coarser looking but still smooth dark grey that is preferred for lower traffic areas (see below – lovely stuff, and low traffic is a bonus) down through to the utilitarian lighter grey but still smooth chosen for busier and wider roads.

Looks rough, but it’s beautiful!

To give you a sense of just how important road surfaces are to us cyclists, I refer you to a scientific paper on the effect of road surface on cycling comfort. Yes, it has been studied, and there is complicated math and all.

At one point our GPS track seemed a bit convoluted so we stopped to ask the local road planning department for directions. They said to continue and trust the GPS and to stop being so soft. They were hard men indeed.

Then into eastern Vienna, up through the nether regions of Vienna, and back out the western side to enjoy some moderate climbs in the surrounding hills. Great cycling.

And on to our overnight spot – Klosterneuberg. Not on the banks of the Danube, but where mosquitos are certainly plentiful and tenacious. The town is famous for a 900 year old monastery which, like the roads, is in impeccable condition. Restored of course, but still, the Yorkshiremen had clearly paid a visit!