Saturday, 25h July.
It was a short drive this morning of about 37kms to Vilshofen on the Danube.
From here, we planned to take a boat ride down river to Passau but were a little perplexed when we rode across the bridge to the boat landing and found four long cruise boats double parked where the ferry boats stop. There was no indication as to where the ferry would pull in, when it would arrive or how we would get the bikes on board. When it finally arrived, twenty minutes late, the half dozen others also waiting boarded easily through the two cruise boats at the landing but as there were stairs to negotiate, we wheeled the bikes around the deck of the first boat only to find that we had to go up a level to get across to the next boat. Fortunately, a crew member took pity on me and carried my bike up the stairs and helped Mike with his, we stepped across to the second boat but were now a level too high to cross over to the ferry. Another young man picked up my bike, carried it down the stairs and on to the ferry, then went back for Mike's.
The ferry only goes to Passau from Vilshofen on Thursdays and Saturdays, which is the reason we're here today and we are very happy that we didn't have to change our plans, as we thought we might. The trip down the river was lovely, a little warm out on deck so we didn't stay there for the whole journey but sat inside gazing at the view through the lovely big windows, sipping a nice cold beer.
There were at least 8 cruise boats berthed at Passau when we arrived, but none at the ferry landing so there was no problem getting the bikes off the boat.
We locked them up by the tourist office and walked through the old town, managed to dodge under cover when the rain came, went into St Stephen 's Cathedral
which houses the world's largest cathedral organ and was hosting a celebration, of what I'm afraid we don't know, wandered through the streets, watched dancers in their national costumes, treated ourselves to coffee and f.a.cream cake, rode to the confluence of the rivers Danube, Ilz and Inn, then rode the 23kms back to Vilshofen. The weather was cool but no more rain, making the ride a pleasant one, there is a cycle path for all but about 500 metres,
there were many people fishing along the banks of the river with several obviously camping out, all set up with tents etc. .....try doing that along the Swan! ....and we stopped at a pub at about the half way mark, for a light meal and drinks. A fantastic day!
From here, we planned to take a boat ride down river to Passau but were a little perplexed when we rode across the bridge to the boat landing and found four long cruise boats double parked where the ferry boats stop. There was no indication as to where the ferry would pull in, when it would arrive or how we would get the bikes on board. When it finally arrived, twenty minutes late, the half dozen others also waiting boarded easily through the two cruise boats at the landing but as there were stairs to negotiate, we wheeled the bikes around the deck of the first boat only to find that we had to go up a level to get across to the next boat. Fortunately, a crew member took pity on me and carried my bike up the stairs and helped Mike with his, we stepped across to the second boat but were now a level too high to cross over to the ferry. Another young man picked up my bike, carried it down the stairs and on to the ferry, then went back for Mike's.
The ferry only goes to Passau from Vilshofen on Thursdays and Saturdays, which is the reason we're here today and we are very happy that we didn't have to change our plans, as we thought we might. The trip down the river was lovely, a little warm out on deck so we didn't stay there for the whole journey but sat inside gazing at the view through the lovely big windows, sipping a nice cold beer.
There were at least 8 cruise boats berthed at Passau when we arrived, but none at the ferry landing so there was no problem getting the bikes off the boat.
We locked them up by the tourist office and walked through the old town, managed to dodge under cover when the rain came, went into St Stephen 's Cathedral
which houses the world's largest cathedral organ and was hosting a celebration, of what I'm afraid we don't know, wandered through the streets, watched dancers in their national costumes, treated ourselves to coffee and f.a.cream cake, rode to the confluence of the rivers Danube, Ilz and Inn, then rode the 23kms back to Vilshofen. The weather was cool but no more rain, making the ride a pleasant one, there is a cycle path for all but about 500 metres,
there were many people fishing along the banks of the river with several obviously camping out, all set up with tents etc. .....try doing that along the Swan! ....and we stopped at a pub at about the half way mark, for a light meal and drinks. A fantastic day!
No comments:
Post a Comment