Stage 7 ventures along the lush, picturesque Wachau Valley with its orchards and vineyards producing some of Austria’s finest wines.

Day      Friday 27 July 2018

Start    Melk, Austria

Destination    Krems, Austria

Distance Travelled     60

Accommodation        Hotel Alte Post Krems – (9 out of 10)

Weather         Hot, 32 degrees

Stopping at the fruit stall along our bike path, we buy delicious peaches and cherries. Here we fraternise with Team New Zealand, John and Bernadette, who are also performing well on stage 7! Deciding we also need a coffee boost, we ride together down hill to a riverside cafe….. Oh NO!!! there is a crash on the pelaton . . ..  !. . . . John was picking up too much speed but fortunately had a soft landing on grass and was soon up and racing again.

The beautiful landscapes of terraced vineyards are a highlight of this stage.

Our bike path varies through ancient narrow streets, tiny villages, past rock cliffs, through stone tunnels and past more tractors!!. The pale pink, floral, Polizei Station caught our attention!?!?!

Concluding the stage at Krems, we are hot, sweaty and tired . . . and a cold shower beckons. We have hit the jackpot again here with another great Gasthof / Hotel again. Hotel Alte Post Krems. When searching for a hotel the day before, we were a bit dubious about this one with shared bathroom and toilet!. . . . however, it far exceeded our expectations being full of character and elegantly restored with many charming / quirky antiques throughout. To top it off – it also hat a fantastic courtyard with colourful umbrellas and flowers.

Bev couldn’t resist a photo opp with the handsome waiter. The best spot for Austrian dinner and Frühstück in town!! Checkout the beverage menu picture  – Tee  mit rum!!!!!