July 13, 2018

 Friday July 13, 2018 uhhmm, got to be careful today.

Our ride started with a switchback downhill of 8 kms descent dropping 800 metres. The owner of the hotel told us to be careful going down the hill as last week there was an accident between a car and cyclist. An air-ambulance (helicopter) was flown into take him to the hospital. 

It was a little chilly this morning (10 degrees) and we had to wear our thicker windbreakers as we hurtled down the hill.

My top speed was 49 kms, on my brakes all the way down.

The ride today should have been “downhill all the way”, but as we were climbing again Ralf said “This is a great downhill I am climbing”. Eventually, we were going downhill and it was a lovely ride, although the signs left a lot to be desired. 

We are supposed to be following the Cyclio de Alpe Adria Radweg (CAAR).  This morning we followed the R8 signs as well as the CAAR and this afternoon we were following the R3 signs into Villach.

We came across this early Christian church (343). The Romans who had converted to Christianity, spread the word throughout the areas they conquered. A mosaic was donated and was found on the south side of the building. It is protected by a building and the museum was only open on week-ends.

We stopped for lunch in Spital an der Drau, and carried on through farm fields.

As we were getting closer to Villach, we noticed this “ferry” you had to ring the bell and this small boat came over to pick you up. I am not sure if he could have managed both of our loaded touring bikes. We didn’t need his services as we needed to stay on this side of the river.

A very large quarry has cut out most of this hill-side as we were entering Villach.

We arrived in Villach at about 2:30, we called our warmshowers host, who was at work and told us she wouldn’t be home until 5:30.

That is a lot of time to spend drinking ice-coffee and then finding her apartment and drinking more coffee. Eventually, I set my chair up and waited for her next to her apartment.

When Angelina came home we put our bikes in her lock-up, had a glass of beer with her on the balcony, showered and headed out for dinner. When we told her what time we usually got up and started riding she almost had a heart attack. However, when we were chatting to her friends at dinner, she found out that they were planning to go climbing on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. As she was going to get up with us to cook us breakfast, she decided to go climbing with them.

We chatted to her friends for a while and then went back to the flat at about 9:00 p.m. and I was asleep by 9:30. Angelina stayed with her friends and we didn’t hear her coming home.