Oct 7 - Vocklabruck, Austria

Awoke at 6:30, left in the chilly mistiness of the valley. Cycled through 30 km of Germany, the last and most beautiful trip. I could see the country in a different way, cycling at 7 in the morning. Children on their way to school, knapsacks on their backs. Women milking the cows, men off to an early start in the fields.

Arrived in Salzburg at 9 am. While the bike was in repair I walked through the city and had some food and took off again. Arrived in Vocklabruck at 3 pm after four hours of ups and downs. Went downtown for a stroll. Ate dinner and wrote.

Mileage: Traunstein to Vocklabruck 93 km

Bike 1.70
Aerograms 1.20
Lunch 1.00
Dinner .20
Hostel .35

I am in Austria now, and it is autumn. The autumn is the time when the royal trees turn their leaves into fountains of color, in preparation for their death as the white of winter comes. The Danau river is in such a state. Mountains of green and gold carpeting rise sharply from the swift river's banks to tower in the cloud's heights. I cycle through the vine-covered terraces of stone and soil. Autumn is the time of the grape harvest. I taste the sweet green grape and let its juices linger in my mouth. I can smell the souring grapes whose fermented juices will someday grace an expensive dinner. The old farmer drives his load of grapes into town while his heavy wife continues pulling the fruit and tossing it over her shoulder into the basket she carries on her back.