Cycling through Central europe

Raining today and cold, probably a good thing because it was 7 miles up to the Slovakian border. The route says it is not suitable for lorries, excellent quiet,beautiful,misty and atmospheric, also very steep. Lots of bird sound, cocks crowing cookoos hooting. Then after the top it was a long gentle downhill through different kinds of forest.   This part of Slovakia looks a bit poorer than Chezia. The towns have little old shops selling all sorts. Still found a trendy cafe in Trencin the waitress was wearing very very tight trousers! I have found the old Eastern European megaphone land. Cycling through a very small rural village suddenly music sounded and then a voice started talking and on she went. Later in another village they were playing Eurovision style music.   So I am now following the Vah river south, through the large valley floor supports the river, a motorway the old road I am following and a local railway . So what with the rain, a Tesco distribution center and ...

Ostrozska Nová Ves to Bromová-Bylnice I thought I might reach Slovakia today,but no I have chosen to go through the hills, and there are still more to come.  I have also had an issue with mud. Last night it rained, so whilst most of my route is on tarmac I am where possible avoiding main roads and using the local waymarked cycle paths. Occasionally this takes me on a gravel/sand trail, problem was that this morning I hit one which had turned to clogging mud! My poor bike was a mess mud in the mudguards, mud everywhere! Next off road bit happened to be a newly built tarmac cycle path, so much better.   I did not want to miss out on a hill pass onto Slovakia, but of course there is always one more ridge so due to the mud issues ran out of time and booked into another sports hotel before the next big climb. My first place in the Czeck Republic (Czechia) whete they have not been increadibly nice and friendly. Also at 29 euros the most expensive. Anyway sneezed my bike into the ...

Cycled into Brno. Quiet because early Sunday morning. With my plan to get the train out I found my way to the main train station, only to be told that due to maintenance work all local trains were departing from a place about a mile away. Now the station did look like a building site. Gold medal to the young guy behind the counter- he drew me an amazing map to reach said station. This took me through a shopping centre,over walkways, past a bus station and got me to the local train departing point.  So it was a train to Breclav, which meant I missed cycling through a high rise landscape and some flat farmland.     From Breclav I cycled on the Czech side of the Slovakia border to Hodonín. A nice cycle,initially along a quiet flat main road (Sunday), then through areas with vines, fruit trees and small lanes.  Hodonín appeared high rise and industrial, but I only passed through and visited the supermarket, so might be more to it.  Then I am cycling up the Morav...

Bystrice nan Pernstejnem to just before Brno A day of castles first the gothic Pernstejn then later Veveri. A lot of restoration work is being done to both. The main town on the route was Tisnov, it felt like a Sunday church bells where ringing and people were in their Sunday best. I spued girls in white dresses so Maybe it was first Holy communion day.    On my map just before Brno, the second city of the Czeck Republic (Czechia) is a reservoir a bit like Keilder, a place for water sports and recreation, boasting no less than 5 campsites on my map. All closed, only open in May so yet again I am in a hotel. Brno a bit more expensive so I backtracked to a place above the lake for £28, very nice. One draw back, restaurant is not yet open so a picnic tea in my room!   The cycle route just uses the busy road along the lake, so I do not have high expectations of a good route out of Brno. Thus I am going (hopefully) to take the train a short distance out. Am now nearly at t...

Hlinsko to Bystrice n. Pernstejnem Another day cycling on small quiet roads through pine forests, past small villages,up and down hills . I did miss my route at one point it was just so nice cycling along that I missed the turning, but no problems. I went into Zara, a big place but they had a great cycle route along the river. I then visited Lidl, admired the high rise 60’s flats and followed a cycle route back east into the wind and into the hills.  Then along to this town which I reached about 5 pm so a good place to stop.Initially not good -the normal high rise flats on the outskirts and a church but not much of a square.So I had an ice cream then saw a sign to ‘Sports Hotel’. Well, I have a great big room which would sleep 3. Have found a kitchen and kettle and all for just under what I paid last night.(breakfast 8 am).   Not a lot of places to eat but found a sort of community looking cafe which had a pizza oven so ate there. Now who would have thought that this place ...

I have been following EuroVelo route 4 . Requires a bit of concentration but in the main is easy to follow. However I am now in the Bohemian-Moravian highland and I certainly have had a lot of hills. It feels great to be on high ground again, though my route has made sure I stay off the main roads and thus have as many ups and downs between small villages as possible. Some of the towns/villages are bigger than I initially think. This morning,for example, I stopped for a very nice coffee on what I thought was the Main Street. But when I proceeded, I found a large square with market taking place.     Much of the route, I think, coincides with an old pilgrim route, with churches on hills and wayside chapels.   Am staying in a pension for £18 plus £3 for breakfast! I was looking for a campsite but Booking.com found me this deal. It even has a kettle (love my tea). The pension is situated in the Hlinsko open air museum. This is a museum village of timbered structures of the ...

I started out well, finding my route out of Prague. But oh dear! What a hash I made of it. I landed on a beautiful new Futch style cycle path and missed my turn off it, backtracked, then was taken onto a main road.  I must have gone the wrong way. So I spent all morning circling around the not so glamorous outskirts of Prague. In the end I returned to the centre and got a train out to Kolin, then cycled my way uphill to Kutná Hora. So am now back on my planned route.   This is a UNESCO heritage site-an amazing old town dominated by the rather over ornate cathedral, Santa Barbara. Loads of museums and the like. Found campsite on way in and have had a meal out. Did not choose the menu of the day, as Wednesday is schnitzels made from turkey thighs which sounded  a bit too much like Kentucky Fried Chicken to me. As my Italian neighbours in their camper van say,  beer is cheaper than water here!

Yesterday afternoon, I relaxed ate ice cream, walked around the gardens of the sculpture museum, and watched a canoeing contest.   Today got the tram into Prague, had an expensive coffee and croissant, and  checked out my route for tomorrow. Full marks to the tourist office as they have leaflets with the Prague cycle routes, plus leaflets with the long distance ones. Also brought a couple of maps.  Then I left the main tourist area and had an excellent lunch (meal of the day), which included beer and a small cake, but cost less than my earlier snack. Back to my nice campsite, my neighbours are an Italian family. (with campervan)

From Veltrusey to Troja Prague A lovely family run small site, flowers a kettle washing machine, botanical gardens nearby. Today and tomorrow are rest days, very relaxed here, Will get tram into Prague for the day tomorrow as it is not really the place you want to be wandering about with all your belongings.  Easter Monday and the boys have been out with their birch tickel sticks, apparently they are to whip the girls to promote firtility. The girls are carrying baskets of eggs, chocolate and real.   Some photos added of the last couple of days

Happy Easter Easter Sunday and a relaxed day. My first stop was for a coffee at one of the shack like places on the cycle trail. The barbecue had been lit but nothing cooked yet. Fellow cyclist seemed to be having a beer!   There are dams in places on the river, plus a canal, plus a railway. In Germany there were river cruise boats but not here. Lots of bird sound in the air.At one point a hare ran in front of me. A lot of small farms/allotments along the way: chickens and small fields with just a few cows or sheep. Through small villages. Also cycling through larger agricultural areas with big fields.  I stopped for lunch at a riverside restaurant filled with ordinary families who had cycled there. I know NO Czech, but nice that people try to talk to me! I ordered by pointing at what someone else was eating which I wanted. Did, however, end up with a large beer instead of a small one.    Then to Melnik which is at the confluence of the Labe and Vltava rivers. Am...

26 in Germany 47 in the Czeck Republic From just before Pirna to Litomerice Although had to backtrack to stay at this unofficial spot where people are camping because the official site in town is not open! So cycling up the Elbe through terraced hillsides,past castles,past cyclists and rollerskaters pushing prams. Very busy as Easter weekend,a bit like the Lake District but with a river. Once into the Czech Republic the Elbe becomes the Labe. Now instead of ice creams there are beer shacks. Even saw people roller skating drinking beers.Mind had one myself but not until evening.  Spent a bit of time in Devon hunting for a cash machine to get my Czech Kroners and have been enjoying the cycle.