clairedavieswriter

Why do I do this? Here’s one reason: I defy anyone not to feel content when freewheeling downhill in the cool of the early morning towards such a magnificent view:

It helped that today’s route offered almost the perfect recovery ride for tired legs:

Team Bernard picked up where we left off yesterday, following the river Inn downstream:

We crossed it several times, on bridges made specifically for cyclists and walkers:

I particularly liked the kink in this one:

But Guillaume soon reminded us that ‘downstream’ doesn’t always mean ‘downhill’ – hence those lumps in the middle of the ride profile. After lulling us with a gentle climb through pine-scented woods:

He threw in some punchy little climbs, which took us high above the river. But as always, the effort brought its own reward:

About a third of the way along, we swapped the river’s narrow gorge for its wide flood plain, and woodlands for fertile farmland.

Driving through France on our way here, we had remarked on how much of their land is given to growing wheat. The produce of the Inn valley is much more diverse. I saw raspberries, blueberries, and so many apples they warranted their own street:

Later, there were carrots, onions, cabbages, potatoes and lettuces:

Other highlights today included this woman out jogging with her horse (as you do):

The prevalence of drinking water fountains, to refresh the many cyclists on the Inntalweg (Inn valley way):

The sight of a ski jumper flying down this snowless slope in Stams (I didn’t know dry / summer ski jumping was a thing):

And the kindness of the lady at the bakery, who saw my disappointment that there were no sandwiches left and offered to make me one. Look at the care she put into it!

This sign suggested that English speakers had butter (sic) be careful:

But according to Gloria Google, it was actually warning about this ‘debris flow channel’:

Speaking of warnings, I love how Austria tries to stop drivers from going the wrong way down a motorway:

Entertainment today was supplied by local place names, in the manner of the famous Two Ronnies sketch (if you’re not familiar, google ‘Two Ronnies Ponting Punting’): first we were rolling through Polling, then wincing past Inzing, before heading to Hatting:

But as the thermometer climbed into the early 30s again, this was my Sign of the Day:

Tonight, we’re parked up in the attractive little town of Vols:

With its inevitable mountain backdrop:

Tomorrow, Bernard is putting his wheels up, while we go for a gentle explore of Innsbruck, a few kilometres to the east. See you on Saturday!