Garmin Activity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1050639966
201km, 8h44, elevation 2612m. Trip rating: 80%
禮拜六早上六點，黑暗又寒冷的布拉格還在睡覺，霸特反而已經用了早餐，穿上騎車裝備，出門面對兩百多公里的偏僻野外。頭25公里是黑漆漆的，而且溫度降到零下三點五度。整個早上都很冷有霧。導航又帶我走陌生未知的新世界。雖然這些小路的狀況好惡劣，可是最起碼那邊可以找到絕對的平靜。不曉得經過了多少小村莊，看到了多少幾百年的老建築。
因為本來就懷疑天氣不會很好，所以沒有規劃超級長的距離，剛好200就好了。幸好下午天氣好轉了。我甚至看到風和日麗的遼闊荒野。那瞬間我心裡在想，捷克的夏天應該也很美。
我也學到了一點東西：原來捷克中部有一個高平台。一瞬間我發現自己連續爬了好幾公里。本來的標高是350，但一口氣爬到接近800。這個落差立刻讓我感到溫度在降，海拔800的屋子跟田野也都看得見最近下雪的痕跡。整個畫面很漂亮，漂亮到我真的無法明白怎麼只有我一個人在這裡騎車。對，早上很冷沒錯，可是下午這些風景很獨特，值得煎熬一會兒。
下午太陽燦爛那一段猶如童話，而且是本人可以親眼看到的童話。只可惜時間沒有暫停，晚上很快來了。我發現天空開始變得灰灰的，多雲的，溫度又開始降。是該抵達終點站的時候了，不要一直像個小孩在外面玩。三十公里後我就抵達了我過夜的地方: Trebic。到了之前我的最愛戰馬還破瘋狂的一萬六千公里，還要三千七百八十公里就破最充滿傳奇的兩萬呢！
在黑暗前到民宿的感覺很好。不知道為什麼，總是不喜歡晚上在黑暗騎。在民宿我先洗澡了，玩臉書。這個民宿也有餐館，因此決定不要出去了，留在裡面用晚餐就好了。我吃了雞肉跟署條，很少這樣吃。一次沒有關係。晚上九點就睡了，為了第二天的長途休息。
For my weekend ride to Trebic I noticed during preparations that the distance was only 200km. This would be a perfect balance between not doing enough and having the time needed for dealing with possible setbacks.
I departed from Cakovice at 6 am, because I was afraid that at 5 am the roads might be slippery. Even after six the temperature was still -3.5, but luckily the roads were not slippery. I still proceeded with care though
A panorama at seven am. It was slowly getting lighter
My GPS sent me through a series of roads where I had never been before
Thumbs up for another cycling weekend
Not far away from Prague, my conquest through a thousand villages had begun
These villages were filled with ancient buildings
Some stores were open early on this Saturday morning
Impressive statue
The first major city on my route was Cesky Brod. This is the railway station.
Bylany, with an old castle
Still foggy and view was limited. Had to be careful on this intersection
Kourim, I already did 50 km here. I calculated that arriving before dark would be an easy chore
I was bombarded with miles and miles of these crappy roads. Good thing I am riding a Roubaix
There was a descent on cobbles here. Needless to point out that comfort was not present in any form.
I took this picture from a gas station, where I stopped for a snack and a bottle of water.
Charming lake
Low traffic in these smaller riads
Steadily my elevation was around 300 and stable
Some snapshots of my immediate surroundings
After 60 km I was led to a bigger road, route 2. I had to follow this one for a full 13 km.
A nearby castle
Route 2, traffic was more present here. I do not like cycling along bigger roads like these
I was heading for Kutna Hora. If you happen to understand Dutch, you will find why I find this name extremely funny. If you do not, let me explain: Na Hora is Czech for In The Mountains. Kutna Hora would mean Kut in the mountains. Now, as to what kut means in Dutch, I will let you google it.
Region of Kutna Hora
More cobbles, you will find them in any city or village. There was a little bike shop and it was even open. I went inside for a few minutes but they did not have anything useful
Although the name may be funny, the city of Kutna Hora did have some impressive sights
SW Roubaix once again
Beautiful view from these castle walls
A golden statue of Jesus
After Kutna Hora, the journey along the tiny roads moved on.
I tried to use one of those during my Kaplice ride, when I nearly died of thirst. Not a drop came out!
Elevation was rising. Here I was already above 450 and climbing
A forest right next to my route
I would not even think about riding inside these woods with this bike
Almost a hundred km but elevation gain was only around 1000 meters here.
I saw some other cyclists here. As the weather gets better, I will have to get used to sharing the roads.
After a hundred km, I made it to the border of Stredocesky Kraj and Visocina Kraj. According to what I saw on the map, I would be climbing more during my second hundred km.
Route 130... This number reminded me of Route 130 in Central Taiwan's Miaoli area. Interesting fact: the Czech 130 is also located at elevation 500+. What a coincidence!
A Zetor tractor. We rarely see those in Belgium
TIS, another funny place name
This part was dreadful. There was not even 30 cm without a pothole or a bump.
I stopped for a snack here
landscapes...
Welcome to the small town of Lucice
It was almost 1 pm here and the weather started getting better
Shetland ponies also in the Czech Republic
I stopped at this gas station for lunch. I noticed that tractors have to pump gas in like regular cars. At home, we have tank for domestic use.
The landscapes are pretty much all the same: hills, open skies and vegetation
But they are nice though
Art with packs of hay in Heralec
This part of the ride made me think that the summer in this country could be nice for cycling
A long climb up here, I believe this was elevation 700 m. The region of Jihlava
Mind the snow here. High elevation means colder temperatures and thus snow
Mr Blue Sky please tell us why you had to hide away for so long?
A lot of climbing in this section, but Jihlava was close
What an awesome afternoon without the disturbance of motorized vehicles
The one alternative you will be getting from open plains with hills are these forest areas
More splendor in Bily Kamen
This afternoon was like a fairy tale
high elevation church
A weird sensation of seeing Vienna indicated here. Znojmo is a location for another ride
Old castle walls in the city of Jihlava
Exiting Jihlava, there was a long steep climb. I think I climbed 100 meters in one go. This picture is taken at the top, around 650 m elevation
The road ahead. I was almost there
More footage of my surroundings
15 km from my destination there was a long stretch right next to train rails
In the saddle for a full day, lots of new memories and impressions
My last OKRES for the day: Trebic! I was almost there
The railroad tracks
Late afternoon panoramic in the outsides of Trebic
Elevation gain was going well. 2500 m seemed very possible
If you look over the road and connect the two green parts, you will see that this is a neatly ascending hill
Before coming here I was sent through a terrible stretch. Not only was it super steep both uphill and downhill, it was not a road for road bikes. Serious potholes and rocks all over the place. I was positively surprised that my tires stayed true through that ordeal
This is where my road bike officially surpassed the 16,000 km mark. Incredible numbers
At last, Trebic rose up in front of me
I climbed 100 m within the city of Trebic itself, totaling at 2600 m. The roads within the city were dangerously steep.
I made it to my destination before darkness. I felt great about that
201 km, 8h44 and 2612m, those are great numbers.
I took a shower, posted a fb message and had dinner in the hotels restaurant. I hit the sack around 9 pm.
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