In the hills above Grein, Austria

The yellow!

We rode many kms up into the hills to go into Clam Castle, but it, like most everything else  doesn't open until May 1st. Frowny faces. At least our thighs are getting in good shape.

I think you can see Scott somewhere in the middle of the pic. The landscape here is almost too idyllic, but there is a certain coolness to the reception we get from people and we see very few smiles. Cars continue to speed down the road right next to us without conceding an inch. Very unnerving. 

Yesterday was a day of animals! In the remote campground we stayed at, the proprietors have no less than 16 different kinds of animals. Our tent was surrounded by a herd of deer (fenced in), furry red oxen with big horns (who slept in a pile like kittens during the night), ducks, chickens, peacocks, a huge herd of kitties (some of whom lounged under a makeshift kitty sauna made from clear plastic covering outdoor furniture), mules, llamas, and one neurotic hund (dog). 

Near our campsite, well off the Danube trail (fifth night in a row camping - we are on a budget roll!)

The Austrian people may be reserved but the kitties aren't! 

I was annoyed while we were paying that his guy kept tacking all these little surcharges (37 cents for electricity, 1.50 for a shower, etc) until the price was among the highest we have paid for camping (all of 17 euros), but then we found out this man works a full time job, then comes home and works until midnight, and we were, as usual, the only customers, so I no longer resented all the little fees.

He got on his riding mower and zipped across a field on a hill, collecting all the grass clippings in a bag. We laughed to see the cows trotting after the tractor, but lo and behold, the man dumped the collected clippings for their dinner. Same thing for the deer. Every swath was dinner for a different set of animals.

The deer stag often watched us, making the same phlegmatic sound Scott's chainsaw makes when he pulls the starter the first few times. Some of these places are so surreal - farm, zoo, restaurant, campground, or bar? Off the beaten path and definitely off season - how we like it (even though it poses challenges!)