Start: Vranov nad Dyjí, Czech Republic
End: Slup, Czech Republic
Distance: 49.7km
Elevation Gain: 1936ft
Elevation Loss: 2340ft
Time: 5h44m
Reading Material: A History of the Jews – Paul Johnson; Attempting Normal – Marc Maron
Audio Material: none, too busy white knuckling
Description
Distance covered isn’t really the best way to gauge the difficulty of a day. Today was spent traversing the Podyjí National Park and while the trails are cycling accessible, it’s much more like biking on a hiking trail for several long stretches. Some real Adventure Cycling. For the first time, I had to get off the saddle and push (uphill on a rocky section where the grade surpassed my gearing and legs; downhill over extremely steep cobbled rocks; and out of caution on a narrow suspension bridge). Many other sections featured singletrack and very careful descents. Fun but exhausting.
At one point the view opens up and you realize you have been traveling on a ridge line about 1000 feet above the river valley below. Definitely don’t want to fall here!
For the night, I followed signs to the Pension ANNA outside of Jaroslavice in Slup where I’m basically staying in the upstairs wing of an older couple’s house along with two tiny dogs. I communicated with the humans in horrible German and the dogs communicated with me in mostly aggressive barks.
Great pictures and very well-written, entertaining blog. Anne and I have been following your journey with interest. Where do you get your electricity from? Do you have a generator on your bike or you just pick your stops so some give you the opportunity for a recharge, like a booth in a café?
Thanks for reading. I have two power sources on the bike: a dynamo hub on the front wheel which generates unregulated AC while moving that can be used to power USB devices via on on-board inverter. And, a solar panel which charges a battery for the laptop. Though, with the cold/wet weather and plentiful, cheap penzions I’ve been staying indoors so far where they have plentiful power and cold breakfast meats
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