Idiotensicher they are not

Route Aschach to Ybbs an der Donau.

English speakers are often a mixture of amused amd jealeous that the German language has a specific word that perfectly describes a thing or a feeling. The classic example is Schadenfreude.

Step up the German word Idiotensicher, which translates to idiot proof. The trouble is that the Austrian Tourist Board or whoever does cycle path signage hasn't understood the concept. I suppose that might make them Idioten? They have surely driven on roads where texts are large and destinations are clear, but they seem to think cyclists can read tiny letters and have in inner compas . My first photo, shows one of their larger signs. Unless you stop you cant possibly take it in, and here the text is 4x the size of the some other ones. Worse are the route indicators. You arrive at the Danube cycle path. You know you are there because there is a beermat sized sign "R1". However it doesn't tell you which direction left is and which direction right is. To top this the signage where you are not on the riverbank is often non existent. Its like the guys in charge of all of this might have a deep loathing of cyclists. So they are either Idioten or pathological.

Why have I gone on this mega digression? Because today I cycled 106 km on a 100 km route. Reason see above.

On the positive side the poor signage helped me achieve my longest ever non stop ride of 106km. Think positive 🤔

The ride started with a beautiful slightly misty morning, with the birds extremely active and songful. My photo doesn't really capture the wonderful atmosphere. I tried!

Then losts of different river landscapes, somtimes with hills on both sides, sometimes with fields of barley and other crops. Unfortunately I didn't take pictures of all of these.

What is suprising and nice is that although since this morning I am in a far more populous region , there are still large sections of the river that are natural with no housing or industry. That's even true around the regional capital of Linz.

Health Update: Bottom pain becoming less. No leg pain. Hands start to hurt after 80km. Very tired.Read more