Donautal ... at last!

I'd had enough languishing in Donaueshingen after three days doing nothing. Sitting by my tent I noticed another cycle tourist roll up - a Kiwi called Diane, who's on her way from London to Istanbul. We compared notes and later on,went to the bar together in the evening. We got on really well and finished up chatting til late and we decided to set off down the Donau, travelling together for a while. So that's what we're doing. I'm bloody glad I did. The Donautal is a spectacularly beautiful limestone walled gorge - unbelievably gorgeous scenery with no road - just the cycle track ... by far the best couple of days I've had on the whole trip and it's made it so much better having someone to share it with. It would have been a shame to wait in D/eshingen and not spend as much time here. Today we're in Sigmaringen - it's got a castle/stately home on the hill over the town ... on the same sort of scale as Chatsworth House. We went on the guided tour instead of just wandering round (reminded me of Budapest and Jeff's tour!) It was well worth it. On the way here we stopped off at lunchtime at a 'surprise' Beer Fest going on in a huge marquee in the woods in the middle of nowhere. At the interval we got chatting to the horn player in the 'um-pah' band and he's invited us over to his house in Sigmaringendorf (a nearby village) for something to eat and a few beers. Had a great night - tomorrow we're heading on to the next place - think its called Riedlingen. There's supposed to be another 'Royal Palace' there too ... but when you've seen one ...
It's not too long now before Doz, John and Julie come and I'm starting to have doubts about what the state of things will be by that time. This time with Di is great. It was hot and sunny again today ... let's hope the weather stays like this for the rest of the trip.