Zentralalpenweg Day 2 (17km)

40 minutes by train took us back to Parndorf to continue our walk across Austria. There were some nice moments with a pleasant, misty & frosty atmosphere at the beginning. The snow had thawed and frozen a few times which meant the tracks were often sheet ice and we had to walk along the sides to start.  Later as the day warmed up to positive temperatures it became a muddy slog.

There were less windmills to be passed on this stretch but the noise from the motorway (A4 between Vienna and Budapest) was very distracting, as was the constant gun fire from the Truppenübungsplatz in the Leithagebirge. There are also several large factories and warehouses near Parndorf so there is definitely no feeling of being in peaceful countryside.  As last time though, we were cheered up seeing lots of hare and deer. Once nearer to Neusiedlersee they all changed into geese! (Note to self - make an effort to carry the telephoto lens next time!)

We made it to Breitenbrunn in time to catch the express train back to Vienna, having walked almost 18km, meaning we were far less tired and stiff than after day 1. Or maybe we are just getting better at it.

See the map here.