Who's a goose?
Time for refreshment - coffee of course at 10 AM
Spectacular river views continue.
This limestone cliff area was recommended by a Dresden barmaid as the "Bohemian Switzerland"
The occasional ferry crossing fuels the local economy and provides a welcome rest from peddling.
By now, we had crossed the German / Czech Republic border and the natural beauty continued.
However, we suffered something of a culture shock as we entered the Czech city of Decin for our first night in the republic. This was our lodging, perfectly adequate, inexpensive but austere like the city itself. I was moved to agree with a web quote that claimed "In Decin you can only gaze in wonder at how Socialist planners brutalized most of the old town to put up ugly soviet tenements and bombastic public buildings. "
While the landscape was still vibrant, the buildings and infrastructure were chipped - failing render not repaired, grass not cut beside roads, and footpaths, the people not as keen to respond to greetings.
Next morning, we found the bike path unreliable as the runway gave way to this!
And this; after terrible winter floods in Saxony, Czech Republic and other parts of Europe, we expected some issues - we sometimes resorted to the road when confronted by such conditions.
Upon arrival in Melnik, our spirits were restored - old world charm was abundant.
The views from above the river were heart lifting.
Melnik sees the confluence of the Elbe and Vltava rivers. From here we would follow the Vltava on to Prague.
Ready to roll on the last leg of our cycle tour - sixty kilometres to Prague.
An early snag - a ferry crossing, but the tillerman was at tea!
I eventually realised that you should press the green button - a ferryman's head appeared from a nearby window - he announced that he would be ready in ten minutes.
The motorless crossing was achieved with use of the current, the tiller and wire that was erected above the river.
As in Myrtleford, the Czechs are hopping to it. They do like their beer here.
Having mastered the German language, I was now charmed by the sound of Czech voices, but gobstopped when it came to uttering such strange consonant blends.
This country estate was undergoing a substantial renovation - Rosemary was looking for much the same!
Bohemian grandeur under repair.
Beautiful vistas continued to accompany us, but ......
The bike route and the riders were on their last legs.
A local rider had led us astray - one slip here and we would land in the drink - the path turned to flinty rubble and got perilously close to the edge - we were too focused to photograph it - a rider may have scrambled out of the river - a loaded bike would have gone straight to the bottom. This continued for a laborious four kilometres.
Relief of a kind - but now the surface was like a beach - sand that was unrideable.
A minor impediment.
Approaching Prague - this would have been the course where young Australian Jessica Fox secured the world championship just a couple of weeks ago.
I had seen many fishermen with expensive gear trying their luck, but no fish. I observed this lump of a carp put up a twenty minute struggle before being landed - the fish is about two feet long - it is a big net. The Czechs manage to make carp edible; the presence of carp does not auger well for other species in this waterway.
Prague central, at last.
After nearly 1400 kilometres, we were glad to dismount and contemplate alternative means of transport - walking sounds good.
No comments:
Post a Comment