The morning kicked off dark and gloomy, only to be swiftly upstaged by a sun that couldn’t resist making a dramatic entrance. My enthusiasm resurfaced briefly. As soon as I hit Salzburg, a city that’s actually earned a spot on my shortlist of likes, the weather pulled a 180 (360 for those good with math). Just as I pondered suiting up in my rain gear, the skies decided on a compromise: no rain, no sun, just moody overcast.
Despite the lack of sunshine, the day was oddly warm, and the sun’s sporadic cameos only spiced things up, stopping just shy of sweltering. The scenery was a showstopper. Cruising between majestic mountains while tailing a spirited river was enough to drop my jaw, repeatedly. Each time, a bug reminded me to snap it shut, offering up some unsolicited protein snacks.
Further down the road, I aligned with a fellow cyclist cruising at my tempo. I might’ve been nudging the speed a bit, but it made for a delightful chat spanning nearly 20 km. The forecast played spoiler with rumors of a 15:00 storm, confirmed by a local cyclist. Not one to flirt with disaster, especially with storm clouds flirting back, I took my meteorological paranoia (thank you, meteorology study sessions for my climbing and flying certifications) and settled down early, just as the clock neared 14:00 and my odometer flirted with 100 km.
Fortunately, the storm was all bark and no bite. The skies cleared briefly, and the rain was as fleeting as yesterday, just a quick sprinkle as I tackled an even bigger schnitzel. These days, I find myself hopelessly addicted to Knoppers nut bars, a vice that’s keeping my engine running. And, as if I needed another lapse, I’ve drowned myself in liters of Apfelschorle.
Tomorrow’s forecast? More brooding skies. But who knows? If the sun graces me with its fickle presence, the only hurdle will be a 20 km uphill. According to my host, after conquering that, it’s all downhill from there, literally.
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