Biking the Danube in Austria - Krems to Melk. By Hazel

In Austria we stayed in a small village called Abstetten for 4 nights. We really wanted to Bike along the Danube river but were unsure how to do it. Luckily our very generous hosts at our airbnb organised bikes for each of us and lent us their car and trailer for the day to transport them to and from the start of our ride.

We started in a small village just outside Krems. We biked along the cobblestone road and it was very bumpy. We went past vineyards, corn and other farms. There was a special biking lane just for bikes. It was a wide path and cars could almost fit through.

At first we were biking through villages instead of along the banks of the Danube river but we got closer and closer.

It was very hot so we had to have lots of stops. Our first stop was in a bakery for a cold drink and cake in a small village on a hill. When we had more energy we started biking down and out of the village and along the river.

Our next stop was just as it started pouring down with rain. The rain was really refreshing though because it was so hot. Mum and Dad tried some local wine and we waited for the rain to stop.

Once the rain stopped we were on our way again but our bottoms got wet because of the seats. The sun came out and we were soon dry. Just before we got to Meeks we crossed a huge bridge over the Danube. We were hot by now so as soon as we found a good spot we jumped into the river to cool down. We had planned to go in the river so we had togs with us and we just dried out in the sun after like a reptile.

Our next stop was for hot dogs by the river. There was little stall there. All of us girls got a free lollipop each and an ice-cream.

After that I started feeling sick. I had biked off ahead very fast and once Dad caught up to me I had a huge headache and drunk all of my water with a pill. I couldn't gulp the pill so I had to chew it and it made me feel sick. Later I threw up on the biking path right next to people's lovely houses. I went for another swim after and I felt much better. I splashed lots of water on my face.

By now it was getting late so we started heading back to the car. The track was going in a circle so we kept going back to the car. We were very tired by now. Finally we came back to the cobblestone town and I hummed to listen to the way the bumping made my voice sound. Finally we saw the car just before a storm came.

It was so late and so stormy so we couldn't have dinner at home and decided to have McDonalds as a treat.

On the way home the storm was so bad with ginormous golf ball sized hail and we drove through a mini tornado and it looked like the huge forked lightning was following us. Luckily we got home safe and the hail finished just as we got out of the car.

We had an awesome day biking along the Danube river.