Danube Gorge

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28 May 2009

The purpose of going to Kelheim was to take a 6k boat trip along the river through a pleasant gorge with limestone cliffs. An indication of how fast the river flows is that it took us 40 minutes to get there with the engine churning away and 20 minutes to get back with with very little power used.

At the end of the gorge we landed at Kloster Weltenburg, an ancient Benedictine abbey. When we got there the place was humming with several groups of children and a large number of pilgrims on a three day 100k walk who were just finishing a late breakfast in the attractive chestnut-canopied beer garden before continuing on their way. The abbey is famous for its strong beer which it has been brewing since 1050. We had of course to sample it and to soak up the alcohol and as it was only 10.30 we accompanied it with brunch of a large and delicious plate of bread, meat, sausage, pate and cheese.

In the afternoon we drove about 50k west to another attractive town, Eichstatt which is on a smaller river, the Altmulh and the centre for a nature park so we hope to do some cycling tomorrow

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