Once more I found myself battling straight in to a increasingly stiff head wind as I headed north across what should have been easy riding along rolling plains. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a tail wind. About half a glorious hour 10 days a go in a valley! I would have caught a train, but there weren’t any

One of these is aerodynamic and likes wind!

Although geographically the route was rather boring, politically it was interesting as it crossed the border in to Austria twice. Sopron, like Geneva, is an enclave. The whole area voted in 1921 to become part of Austria, but the town’s citizens stayed loyal to Budapest. So the apparent differences in housing, infrastructure, amenities (and hence -perhaps- standard of living?) when you cross the border are all the more remarkable.

As I slogged on in to the hot headwind I mercifully chanced upon a swimming pool and cafe. A quick swim and spag bog recharged the batteries. Good job, because I now had to try and outrun a fast approaching huge storm- another common and unwelcome part of this cycling holiday so far.

It was only 50km the whole day, but my heart (and legs) just weren’t in to it and wanted to be elsewhere… Feet up in front of the box watching the men’s singles final at Wimbledon. (And the Tour de France + MotoGP = armchair heaven).

After a scramble to find an empty hotel I eventually checked in to a rather seedy place out of town. But it had a TV I needn’t have hurried in the end, Mr Federer took his time to say the least! But a golden moment for him and for little old Switzerland as another of theirs (Fabian Cancellara) currently holds the coveted Yellow Jersey.

A hot (and sticky) but great day riding.

After a rest day in Maribor and another festival-disturbed inadequate nights sleep I headed off on a hot and muggy day with no more than a rough plan to just aim NE. The route was rather dull getting out of Maribor, but got better as I hit some hills, and I was soon crossing the (heavily swollen) River Mur at Mureck in to Austria.

The first vehicle that rumbled towards me was a tank! I raised my hands to surrender, knowing that Austria’s close alley and near next door neighbour Switzerland had tipped them off about my late payment of my TV licence. Thankfully the tank crew waved back! Relieved I refuelled on Spag bog.

I then worked my way across a series of ridges in the increasingly energy-sapping heat and humidity, before diving for cover from a particularly violent storm in the beautiful ridge top village of St Anna.

From the comfort of the Inn, I watched as the outdoor furniture got blown across the street and in to the nearby fields! Its almost 2 weeks since this wild weather struck and it has rained on me everyday now. But after the storms at least the air is much cooler (the roads have steam coming from them) and I enjoyed the 15km left to the very pleasant town of Feldbach.