Black Forest to the Black Sea - on into Austria.

 I was hoping to inject a bit of culture into the lives of anybody who takes the time to read this but as my so called mature, professional friends are discussing the merits of  Karstified rock v Blackpool rock I realise I'm on to a loser.

I think if I have to summarise today its been the outward affluence of this part of Germany ... and now Austria. Brand new BMWs, beautiful houses, boats, road and bridge building, new factories and pristine farms with acres and acres of rich farmland. I mentioned to someone already that there should be a per capita "Wealth Map" of the Danube ... I can't think that furthe down the river where I'm paying 13 pounds for B & B will be as charming. We'll see!

Today was full on, the sights just kept coming and coming and as I promised not to keep posting pictures of the river I'll also have to limit the sights.

 Just a few miles from Bad Goggin where I stayed last night  was Weltenburg Abbey  

a Benedictine monastery founded in about 617. Not only a beautiful building but on a peninsula at the point where the Danube stops its meandering over the flat valley bottom and follows the path it has cut through rock  - the Weltenburg Narrows (The ariel view obviously not mine)

the "Liberation Tower" on the hill above the town of Kelheim in Bavaria built on orders of King  Ludwig 1
                                             in order to commemorate the victories

                                             against Napoleon in 1815.

Passau is a place I must visit again ... but when the temperature is not 25deg C and I'm in full bike gear ... oh and when so many river cruise ships aren't in!  It looks a beautiful vibrant place.

And on into Austria ...

                 A lot more cruise ships now. A bit like my trip on Route 66..that is 2448 miles long but tourists are usually steered to just 225 miles of it ... well most Danube Cruise typically start in cities like Vienna, Budapest, or Passau  and few go all the way to the Danube Delta and the Black Sea.

 Never done one but they look amazing ships ... or are they boats?

I was fascinated by the field and fields of what i think are melons but I may be wrong  (Roger???)...how do they get them in rows when harvesting them.

 Easy use a melon plough...

Clarkson should get one!

Anyway, I prattle on and am probably boring you.

                                Am in Austria tonight Slovakia tomorrow..... good night.