2008-05-04 17:18

Photos today from cell phone due to technical difficulties.  Photos can be found in a post below as the pics were sent directly to vox from the cellphone.  Should be two posts in, not counting the one Bob added.

Surprise, to us especially, we have connectivity via a good Ethernet connection in a small Gasthof in the middle of nowhere. Very small town, Osterhofen, south of the main Danube trail.  Needed a place to stay as we did not want to do 110 km to Passau so we found a place closer to half way.

Tip Top Tea (The Tea of Record) is closed today to mourn the death and celebrate the life of Marylou Trudell, a two day closing for an important fellow traveller.

We left Straubing to the sounds of many marching bands (pics).  500th  year anniversary of the town;  multi-colored uniforms, Sharon favored the traditional green.  A nice way to cycle out of town on a sunny Sunday morning.  

Expected a quiet Sunday in Bavaria with all services closed.  However, the 40 km Straubing, Bogen, Mariposching Rad-Tour (Bike Tour) (pics) started just after our departure.  When we asked the destination, one rider told us the name of the beer hall rather than the city it was located in. We cycled along, got some info from riders and enjoyed a good ride to the beer hall, where we left them.

When we got to Deggendorf we had coffee and surprisingly tasty minestone soup.  Rathaus (pics) with a sundial.  Intended to take the ferry, then on to Osterhofen, but, in perfect German, we were told by a local, "Die Machine is Kaput".  So, we cycled onto Winzer and headed south to Osterhofen.
 
Nice Gasthoff in a town with a very fine Basilica.   Basilicas are similar to Doms except that they are not the seat of the diocese.  This one is an outstanding Baroque  edifice, the inside filled with stucco figures, paintings, gilt, faux surfaces, etc.  While walking to the Basilica we met a nice woman from Munich. After pleasantries she mentioned she was going the the church and we should follow.  I asked a few questions, naturally, and she said that they had a tour arranged and would ask the guide.   She did one better, arranged a private tour, in German, for us and helped translate a bit.  Very nice of her. 
 
 

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