Valtice to Vienna 

June 9 2023

This  morning it wasn't raining but the clouds were so low and the humidity so high it might as well have been raining.  The ride into Vienna was projected to be 105 kms and with the forecast of rain all day there wasn't a single one of us who wanted to do the ride. We all wanted to take the train.  It was 15 kms ride over to the nearest town which had a station so down the road to the train we went.

On the way to the train we rode past a tribute to Dianna.  It was a huge monument fashioned after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.  There it was in the middle of the forest on a gravel road.  Why and who built it?  Unknown!

The 15 kms was down some pretty rough gravel/dirt road but after all the rough roads we have been down it seemed like a piece of cake.  Arriving at the station it was starting to rain , so we rolled our bikes straight into the station and within 5 minutes were on the train.  We were still strapping the bikes in place when the train pulled out of the station.  Nothing could have worked smoother.

The train was an ultra modern trin with places for bikes and an upper level with great seating and big viewing windows.  The train was so smooth it was impossible to tell how fast you were going. The acceleration out of a station and the deceleration into stations was so fluid there wasn't a single jolt at all.  The journey took about 90 minutes and we rolled into an ultra modern underground station.  

As it was just lunch time Bob called for a lunch stop at the station so we sat at an out door cafe and had our lunch.  The clouds had dissipated and we enjoyed a nice warm sunny break.  The hotel was a short 10 minute ride from the station which we quickly covered.  Checked in and ready to go by 1:40 pm.

After check in Ken and I went for a huge walk.  Just around around the corner from our hotel is huge permanent amusement park, complete with Ferris wheel, roller coasters fun houses, bumper cars, shooting galleries, and this rotating swing on this tower which has to be at least 15 stories high.  Neither Ken or I were willing to give it a try.  

The amusement park had to have been 20 blocks long and when we came to the end we were in this beautiful tree lined street.  It was so peaceful walking along enjoying the nice warm sunny day.  

When we got back to the hotel we stopped at a open air cafe and enjoyed a local beer.

What a great way to avoid the rain, have a fun train adventure, all the while covering our 105 kms.

Tomorrow is our rest day in Vienna and then we have 5 ride days to Budapest which will conclude the tour.

Terry