<b>May 9, 2012</b>
<b>Linz to Au</b><b> (698 total km)</b>
<b>☀ Sunny Sunny Sunny :)</b><b>
</b><b>GH Jägerwirt €66 ($87) En suite double, breakfast included</b>
 
 
<b><i>Lingering at our Four Star Hotel </i></b>
 
Let me just say, we got our moneys worth at the Courtyard Marriott. We enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast buffet which promised delicious whole wheat roll with herbal cream-cheese spread and lox for lunch. Fresh squeezed OJ and cappuccino, yogurt, fresh fruit salads, many cheeses and cold cuts, lox, bacon, fried potatoes, salads and even wine. We took our time and savored every bite. Careful not to overdo it. There is nothing worse than riding with bloated bellies;).
 
Then we retreated to our room and worked on getting reservation for our four days in Vienna. Hiro had the map out and the three of us were busy on different websites trying to find a good deal. We booked our Hotel Lassalle- Austria Trend through Hotwire.com. €465. for 2 rooms for 4 nights. (€ 58.20 per night.) Near riverfront in front of Danube Island.
   
 
We checked out at noon and planned on a short day today. To our utter disappointment we couldn't find a bakery open where we could buy a Linzer Torte. It was a holiday. We did stop at the new Maria Cathedral. It has beautiful stained glass windows. Junko and Hiro lit another candle in his mothers memory. 
 
 
<b><i>Fantastic Bikeway Between our Fantastic Hotels</i></ôb>

Just off the bridge on the left side of the Donau, the trail is in a park like setting.
  
For at least 7 km the trail was shaded by trees. Loads of people were out sunbathing, inline skating, walking, jogging and lots biking.
 
We followed the dyke then turned off to Abwinden, and followed the radweg through the town of S.t Georgen. In Mauthausen we stopped at tourist info and were able to reserve the lovely GH Jägerwirt in the small town of AU on the route 6 km ahead. 
 
<b><i>
Found Another Great Place to Stay</i></b>

Jägerwirt's rooms are cozy, some have a small balcony. The place was built in 1860 and has been owned by the same family. The old proprietress was born there. 


Outside dining was in full swing when we came down. We couldn't find a place out of smoke, many smokers in Europe. We moved inside. We were told there would be at least an hour wait, it was already 7 pm so we were ready to find one of the two other places in the small town. The busy owner/ chef and her husband had sent their normal staff home after they had worked a long day serving 170 people party. So she and her husband were at it alone. 

She came out of the kitchen assuring us that she would find a way to serve us soon. She is an endearing lady who in spite of the challenging workload, appeared friendly and together. We ordered asparagus soup and we shared two main meals of succulent veal, carrots, potato and salad. Afterwards, when the dinner guests had left, the owner joined us. She wanted to know all about us and when asked told about her family who go back to 1867 in same gasthof. Last week, a front page article appeared in local paper and blasted to the world that she turned 70 she said with a giggle. 

   
 
She treated us to delicious Sacher Torte and wonderful berry liquor she had made and potent schnapps her husband had brewed, for Dave. We had delightful evening.
 
-----------------------

<b style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">References: </b><br style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">....1) The Danube Cycle Way; Donaueschingen to Budapest by John Higginson</b><br style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">... 2) Bikeline Maps & Guides; Donau-Radweg 1, (5 books in the series)</b><br style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Our plan in a nutshell;</i> </b><i style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">2900 total kilometers at 50 km per day - 2 days riding for 1 day off  for a total of 58 riding days & 90 total days - April to July, 2013 :)</i>