Courtesy of Canah along the Danube River, Germany.
Romanian Avram Iancu continued on his scheduled 60-day stage swim of 2,860 km along the Danube River through Europe.
The 41-year-old librarian from Petrosani, Transylvania started his stage swim from Donaueschingen in the Black Forest in Germany. He is now heading into Day 21 into Austria as each day is a dynamically different replication of the day before.
Day 19 on July 8th
Iancu intentionally dropped his pace considerably today and swam only 14 km after his 45 km stage yesterday. “I felt that my body and mind really needed a slower pace today. Last few days I’ve been swimming about 40 km per day, so today’s swim was at a much kinder pace to everyone.”
Day 20 on July 9th
Iancu started the day by crossing another lake on the Danube. “There were hundreds of boats on this section of the river so also were a lot of waves. I managed to pass it 11 km later before reaching Passau. I fell in love with the beautiful nature in this area, but reaching Passau also means I am now facing a new, massive challenge.”
The Inn River joins the Danube, bringing with it extremely cold waters: the temperature dropped from 21°C to 14°C and the Inn’s depth is twice the Danube’s. Iancu managed to adapt to the new swimming environment and swam another 9 km before developing hypothermia.
“As I was getting warm and preparing for the night ahead, I am content that I is now leaving Germany behind and entering a new country, Austria. I hope things will get better from now on and the Inn will slowly get warmer. I am very excited to be swimming the Austrian section of the Danube over the next 300 km. I have so far passed 50 dams in Germany and 30 more are waiting for me in Austria. I will be crossing the first one in 12 km.”
A report on his stage swims between Days 1-9 is posted here. A report on his stage swims between Days 10-13 is posted here. A report on his stage swim between Day 14 is posted here. A report on his stage swims between Days 15-16 is posted here. A report on his stage swim between Day 17 is posted here. A report on his stage swim on Day 18 is posted here. To follow Iancu on Facebook, visit here.
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