Round it, on it, in it. Innit.

 We seem to have ignored the thing that's been staring us in the face for the last week. The lake, which has dominated our view from the moment we wake up. 

If we don't do something about that today, then we're too late. Today is the last day of our holiday. Ah, but I shall continue to blog for the next three days as we journey home. Don't think you've got off that lightly. 

We knew that today would be the hottest day of the whole trip. We had to think carefully about what we could cope with. What came up tops? A bike ride of course. At least, for the first half of the day. 

We still haven't actually cycled round the lake - probably the thing that most people do first. A ride round the lake is just nine miles long. We set off 'on task' but kind of went off at a tangent, half way round. We decided to head for a little town called Taxenbach. Only because we reckoned that by then, we would be happy to turn round. We made it to within a couple of kilometres of Taxenbach, but were finally thwarted by a cycle lane closure. We could have opted for a hilly route at this point but didn't. Would you, in 30°?

We returned the way we had gone until we reached the lake, at which point we continued our anticlockwise progress. 

Bikes were out in their heaps. Fast, slow, serious, having a giggle. Although giggling does seem far from the average Austrian psyche. 

Near the end of the circumnavigation, we reached the place mentioned before, with cheap coffee and cheap ice cream. Kate went for ice cream. I couldn’t decide. Easy! I'll have both! 

360° later, we were back at the bnb. We had lunch which, for me, consisted of more of last night's pizza. (And hot sauce) I still can't finish it. Perhaps I will at tea time?

We sat on the balcony apprehensively watching the weather and feeling the heat intensify. Eventually, we could put it off no longer. We knew it had to be done: a boat trip round the lake. This was one of the free rides with our amazing voucher. So, with the heat at its height, we set off for Zell am See. (Or UAE, as it could more accurately be described)

We knew the boat went roughly every hour so didn't bother checking the times. After all, I thought, the very worst case scenario would be to see the boat glide from its moorings at the second we arrived. We saw the boat glide from its moorings at the second we arrived.

The advantage was that we could sit somewhere shady and cool down, as well as be early in the queue for the next one, thus ensuring a decent seat.

As we sat in said shady area, we watched people. Is there a better pastime? We were fascinated to see people stop walking, feet from the shade of a tree or building and stand around for whatever reason. I felt like shouting "Go two more steps and get in the shade!" If someone went past with a similar hair style to mine and no hat, I wanted to shout "Get a hat on your head!" Oh well. I suppose that's what getting older does to you. I'm very good at 'tutting' at things these days. Sometimes I just tut randomly to cover a tutting opportunity that I might have missed....

Eventually, our boat came in. We went to an open deck upstairs which had sails overhead as protection from the sun. We worked out where we thought we would have maximum protection and sat down.

The boat, well, it went round the lake. Our progress triggered a fountain display at one point and every now and again, we would be told something about the mountain we were passing at that time. After a while, the sun was just too much. We went downstairs and into a blissfully cool room, full of Arab ladies and gentlemen. They obviously know how to respond to intense heat. While the rest of the world seemed to be positive seeking it, they were sheltering from it. If you're dressed from top to toe in black, I can't think of anything worse than trying to function in such heat. 

We alighted from the boat and made our way back along the shore of the lake. As we did so, I was 'pumping myself up'. I knew the time was coming when I would be taking, what for me, is extreme action. By the time we arrived at the spot, I was pumped. Without delay, I took off my shoes and socks, changed into my trunks and swam in the lake. 

I think Kate was slightly surprised and amused by my decisiveness but she didn't join me. She looked on with mild curiosity and took the obligatory photos to record this momentous occasion. 

And so, I, at least, have done the lake in most ways possible. I have been round it, on it and in it. When we move on tomorrow, I can be happy in the knowledge that Zell am See lake has been done.

I've just finished that pizza for tea, making it a good value purchase. We will soon start rounding up panniers, rucksacks, cycling shoes, walking boots and all the stuff we really won't need again and put it in the car to make packing easier tomorrow. 

Tomorrow's destination is near Stuttgart. Tomorrow morning will be our last opportunity to see our stunning view. 

Austria has been a crackin' experience!

photos are in the opposite order again 🫤

Evidence of my extreme action...

Kate too!🤪

'Our' house is the one above the apartments in the middle.

En bateau

We had to disappear of into this dungeon like aperture each day to get home. It is the only way to cross the rail track and road. 

Our favourite spot, with reasonable coffee and ice cream....

We cycled past this church and they were calling people in by name. They were all youngsters. We reckon it was some sort of confirmation service? They were all in full Austrian attire.