Saturday 29th June – Day 57
Litomerice to Decin
Onwards through the Czech Republic we encountered fast tarmac trails, potholed roads, rough tarmac, dirt tracks and rubble! Nice scenery, some hills, and hot and sunny.
Through Usti, then stopped for a cooling beer, but they didn't do food, so it was on into Decin for a late lunch at a roadside snack bar. The campsite was pretty much underneath a main road flyover, but surprisingly the noise was not too intrusive. A short ride to supermarket for supplies, then relaxed in the 35c temperatures.
56km, Total 2946km
Sunday 30th June – Day 58
Decin to Heidenau (D)
Hot and sunny again. A decent trail along the Elbe led between scenic sandstone towers, and then after 15km we crossed the border into Germany.
This area, and for a long while to come used to be in East Germany, and the character was noticeably different to the parts of Germany we had previously crossed – more austere, derelict factories, and dull brown towns and villages. We stopped at a biergarten, for beer and sausages, sitting in the shade as it was very hot. It was round about here we noticed that Janet's rear wheel rim was starting to break up around a spoke, the potholes and rubble of the Czech Repulic had taken their toll!
We dropped into a cycle repair shop in Pirna that was open on the Sunday, they didn't have a suitable replacement wheel, but suggested a shop in Dresden for the next day who would be able to help. We carried on to the campsite at Heidenau, just short of Dresden. It was 40c now so we were glad of an early finish, and there was a nice restaurant nearby for dinner, as due to it being Sunday we had no fresh food.
56km, Total 3002km
Monday 1st July – Day 59
Heidenau/Dresden
On another hot and sunny morning we rode light into the south side of Dresden to “Fahrrad XXL Bicycle Emporium”. It was the largest bike shop I have ever seen, with hundreds of bikes for sale, as well as all the accessories, and a repair workshop. It even had a marked out test ride circuit inside the shop! We took Janet's bike in, one look to establish what was needed, ten speed, disc compatible wheel, and immediately took a suitable wheel off the rack. I asked if they could fit it, and they were most apologetic that it would be an hour. The shop was so large that we had plenty to look at while we waited for them to swap all the components across. Janet also took the opportunity to buy a new pair of cycle shoes, as hers had pretty worn through on the soles. I also got a new bell, as mine had disintegrated on the train to Prague, and they are pretty much essential on the shared use trails.
We were soon on the road back to the campsite, where Janet got some washing done – hot and sunny so everything dried quickly, and I went to a supermarket for supplies. All that done we still had time to visit a biergarten by the Elbe, relaxing in the hot sunshine.
21km, Total 3023km
Tuesday 2nd July – Day 60
Heidenau to Riesa
A nice sunny morning, but a stiff breeze, against us as usual! An easy trail led to Dresden, where we passed through the city easily on a riverside trail along the South Bank.
Onwards into an ever stronger headwind with good tarmac interspersed with cobbles. There was a diversion up a big hill, and the descent was on cobbles all the way back to the river – Janet was glad she had a new wheel! Through Meissen, and on, with yet more cobbles to Riesa for a supermarket stockup, a beer at a “Beach Bar”, and to camp at the “Wassersportsverien” (Water Sports Club). It had been hot and sunny all day, but we were wind-blasted in the ferocious headwind.
73km, Total 3096km
Wednesday 3rd July – Day 61
Riesa to Prettin
Set off in fine sunshine, not to hot. We bought pastries and lunch supplies before leaving Riesa. We then followed the river for a while, before the trail zig-zagged around fields. Tarmac surface, except cobbles through every village. Strong headwind again. After a road stretch we crossed the Elbe at Torgau, then a mixture of roads and trails led us to Prettin. There was a supermarket for supplies, but apart from that the town was deserted. On a further couple of kilometres to the campsite by a bathing lake, which was also almost deserted, but did have a bar for a beer while waiting for the reception to open. A fine sunny day, but the strong headwind was becoming quite wearing.
75km, Total 3171km
Litomerice to Decin
Onwards through the Czech Republic we encountered fast tarmac trails, potholed roads, rough tarmac, dirt tracks and rubble! Nice scenery, some hills, and hot and sunny.
Through Usti, then stopped for a cooling beer, but they didn't do food, so it was on into Decin for a late lunch at a roadside snack bar. The campsite was pretty much underneath a main road flyover, but surprisingly the noise was not too intrusive. A short ride to supermarket for supplies, then relaxed in the 35c temperatures.
56km, Total 2946km
Sunday 30th June – Day 58
Decin to Heidenau (D)
Hot and sunny again. A decent trail along the Elbe led between scenic sandstone towers, and then after 15km we crossed the border into Germany.
This area, and for a long while to come used to be in East Germany, and the character was noticeably different to the parts of Germany we had previously crossed – more austere, derelict factories, and dull brown towns and villages. We stopped at a biergarten, for beer and sausages, sitting in the shade as it was very hot. It was round about here we noticed that Janet's rear wheel rim was starting to break up around a spoke, the potholes and rubble of the Czech Repulic had taken their toll!
We dropped into a cycle repair shop in Pirna that was open on the Sunday, they didn't have a suitable replacement wheel, but suggested a shop in Dresden for the next day who would be able to help. We carried on to the campsite at Heidenau, just short of Dresden. It was 40c now so we were glad of an early finish, and there was a nice restaurant nearby for dinner, as due to it being Sunday we had no fresh food.
56km, Total 3002km
Monday 1st July – Day 59
Heidenau/Dresden
On another hot and sunny morning we rode light into the south side of Dresden to “Fahrrad XXL Bicycle Emporium”. It was the largest bike shop I have ever seen, with hundreds of bikes for sale, as well as all the accessories, and a repair workshop. It even had a marked out test ride circuit inside the shop! We took Janet's bike in, one look to establish what was needed, ten speed, disc compatible wheel, and immediately took a suitable wheel off the rack. I asked if they could fit it, and they were most apologetic that it would be an hour. The shop was so large that we had plenty to look at while we waited for them to swap all the components across. Janet also took the opportunity to buy a new pair of cycle shoes, as hers had pretty worn through on the soles. I also got a new bell, as mine had disintegrated on the train to Prague, and they are pretty much essential on the shared use trails.
We were soon on the road back to the campsite, where Janet got some washing done – hot and sunny so everything dried quickly, and I went to a supermarket for supplies. All that done we still had time to visit a biergarten by the Elbe, relaxing in the hot sunshine.
21km, Total 3023km
Tuesday 2nd July – Day 60
Heidenau to Riesa
A nice sunny morning, but a stiff breeze, against us as usual! An easy trail led to Dresden, where we passed through the city easily on a riverside trail along the South Bank.
Onwards into an ever stronger headwind with good tarmac interspersed with cobbles. There was a diversion up a big hill, and the descent was on cobbles all the way back to the river – Janet was glad she had a new wheel! Through Meissen, and on, with yet more cobbles to Riesa for a supermarket stockup, a beer at a “Beach Bar”, and to camp at the “Wassersportsverien” (Water Sports Club). It had been hot and sunny all day, but we were wind-blasted in the ferocious headwind.
73km, Total 3096km
Wednesday 3rd July – Day 61
Riesa to Prettin
Set off in fine sunshine, not to hot. We bought pastries and lunch supplies before leaving Riesa. We then followed the river for a while, before the trail zig-zagged around fields. Tarmac surface, except cobbles through every village. Strong headwind again. After a road stretch we crossed the Elbe at Torgau, then a mixture of roads and trails led us to Prettin. There was a supermarket for supplies, but apart from that the town was deserted. On a further couple of kilometres to the campsite by a bathing lake, which was also almost deserted, but did have a bar for a beer while waiting for the reception to open. A fine sunny day, but the strong headwind was becoming quite wearing.
75km, Total 3171km