This was a really lovely day’s cycling, mostly through the wooded Danube gorge and mostly on tarmac, but traffic free, roads. Ideal.

We just purred along, mostly in silence, drinking in the views and the calm atmosphere. Helen became positively pensive.

The river continued to weave a crazy course and we amused ourselves by ‘racing’ against cyclists on the opposite bank. At one stage we lost about half a mile through being on the outside of the bend, only to catch up and overtake on the next, and opposite, bend.

We have to admit that we were both getting tired towards lunchtime and we were glad to arrive at Linz.

This is a lively city that was European City of Culture in 2009 and is still basking in the glow. The main square was a lovely place for reviving tea and beer, after which we checked into a hotel. We have decided to give ourselves another of our ‘bonus’ days off tomorrow and we are looking forward to exploring the place more thoroughly.

Helen’s track of the day: Handel’s Water Music as whistled with wonderful skill by a cycling chap outside the food shop in Ashach today.