Weather for ducks … or maybe clay pigeons …

The rain storm over northern Europe finally caught up with us. It had rained almost all night and the weather didn’t look too promising. But thankfully we were able to just get away with sprinkle, wearing our raincoats to keep mostly warm, it was 13C, we were not even damp.

Today we start another leg of our adventure, the Drauradweg we leave Italy and travel to Austria. Firstly, only about 2km to find the source of the river. It wasn’t difficult to find apart from a slight hiccup when we went through a gate (which we shouldn’t) and ended up on military property, it was a rifle range. We then saw the diversion and correct track. A well marked site and noting the dedication to the ‘source’ of the river, it was a run off from a mountain. Water bottles were filled with fresh sweet water.

No effort required today as it was a gradual downhill all the way. Travelling along the river, it was quite a cacophony of water as the run off’s from the mountain entered the Drau.

Within 12km we entered Austria, we met a few cyclists today, all laden with panniers in colourful wet weather gear. I break into Sound of Music song … just can’t help myself!

A stop in Sillian for a coffee at a cafe/chocolateir … the wines and beers were being served at 11am … you just have to love the Europeans.

A favourite of mine around the corner a few kms on, the Loacker wafer biscuit factory … yum, no free samples though, just a roaring trade of people loading up with the huge selection of produce. 2 packets was enough for me.

A few insignificant villages along the way, a few high waterfalls, the mountain and hills were spectacular as were the cloud cover halfway up the mountains. The path was a lovely smooth surface, great for the downhill.

It’s Saturday, and sure enough we stumbled across a bucks party out in the bush …

Lienz is at the confluence of the Isel and Drau Rivers; a lovely neat town a hub for the adventurous, mountain climbing, nature parks, ski lifts, then the many cultural sights around this medieval town.

The main square busy with restaurant trade, we joined for a lunch stop.