VI

https://youtu.be/LX910xlkQhk

Okay, I’m not grumpy, no worries, but the weather is the same as in the song.

Today’s travel data:

Date: Sunday, 17 July

Way: Bad Ischl – Hallstatt

Distance: 20km

Time: 12:15 – 13:45

Weather: RAIN

It was raining in the morning and around midday, so you can imagine my motivation to get out for bicycling. I spent the morning with Nici, my host, trying to find out what I should do today. After looking up a lot of hostels at different places (Hallstatt, Obertraun, Bad Aussee), I decided that I would drive straight down to Hallstatt and take the other bicycling route through Bad Aussee on the way back. The way from Bad Aussee to Bad Ischl would be a small, non asphaltic road up and down hill, and I didn’t dare to drive that in the rain.

I left Nici around Midday (my first Couchsurfing experience and really positive!) in the rain, was bicycling in the rain, but at least it almost stopped once I arrived Hallstatt.

Right in the moment I came into the village, I knew it was a tourism spot. I even would have noticed if I didn’t know where I was. Many restaurants, open supermarkets, even on Sunday (this time I thought about taking food with me, and then there are still open supermarkets…), many souvenir shops and Japanese everywhere. Not that there is anything bad about them, there were just so many! I was really fascinated by that.

It took me almost 15 minutes to get through the city because I had to drive very slow. I reached the camping ground I have planned to stay, and I was able to build up my tent the first time, and it was not raining anymore! What do you want more?

The rest of the afternoon I spent with sitting inside and using the fast WiFi for writing, till some special guests from Vienna arrived. Lukas and Matze (the same friend, who was in Sankt Leonhard as well) came for a spontaneous visit, for Pizza and for Pokémon. So we spent a really nice evening and night,. I have to admit, it was way better than sitting alone in my tent.

Things I have learned from today?

I don’t always have to drive a long distance  especially if it’s raining. As well I don’t have to stick with my plans if other ones seem better or more practical.