Garmin acitivity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1167269666
163 km, 8h13, elevation gain: 2506m. Trip rating: 80%
Three days have already passed, I incurred many headwinds and hardships, but here I was: early morning on the fourth day. Today I would return to the Czech Republic, although not yet to Prague.
I found a place in Zlutice, a small town, which divided the remainder of the trip neatly in two parts: today I would be doing 160 km, which is fine and then there would still be 120 km left.
A beautiful morning, to my calculations, I still had some 80 km left in Germany
Cosy little creek in a small town.
Picturesque
There was a 10 km cycling path that kept climbing with 2% gradient From 300, I climbed to 500 meters. I was heading for the town of Bayreuth.
Actually it was really nice to have a ten km segment without facing heavy traffic
After those ten km, the elevation continued and I went to 600.
Even there it did not stop: there was a little town here, located at 700 meters. Boy, that was a good climb.
Obviously I made a purchase at this gas station here
This was a cute small town, with a church and many tourist sites.
The true soul of Bayern lays hidden here
B303, the hotel owner told me that this one would lead to Cheb.
This elevation was pretty high already
Then a remarkable feature, right after leaving the town there was a steep descent. I believe I dropped some 70 meters. Then it went straight up again!
And that climb went as high as 798 meters
Landskreis Wunsiedel
Elevation 800 meters
This segment in east Germany had a lot of climbing and it was tiring. But it was a nice experience as well
Then a lovely descent followed. These panoramas were truly magnificent
This feeling is the reason I like embarking on these huge missions, it is such a discovery
There was a very annoying part with road works, where there was only sand. I checked the GPS, no real alternative route so I went for it. All I can say is, nice that I was riding fatter tires.
A sharp descent into the town of Wunsiedel
Bartman out in the open
Owyeah
Bundesstadt Wunsiedel
OMG I saw a cycling store and it was open! I went inside and refilled my tire pressure to 90 PSI. That was great! I also bought an inner tube just in case...
The passage through Wunsiedel was obviously worthwile. I felt so reassured now.
Cheb and Czechia were coming closer by the meter...
Navigating my way to the border
How could you not halt and capture this stunning view?
The last few miles in Germany. It seemed that I would be entering Czechia in Cheb and not in Asch.
This sky is something else, right
Mongolian style castle on Germany's most eastern point
This castle is obviously from a different style. I wonder who had it built
There is it, on the sign! Cheb (CZ). It is called Eger in German
Staatsgrenze, national border coming right up
Successfully rounding up my second conquest of Germany is great. Staatsgrenze, here I come!!!
Long time no see Czech road signs!
Too bad this cycling lane did not offer a typical border sign
Standing in between Germany and Czechia
First thing I noticed upon entrance in Czechia is the poor condition of the roads. It is downright terrible!
It was warm and I was running out of drinks. Time to search for a Potraviny
Remarkable contrast colors
When I arrived in the Czech republic, I still had 80 km to cover before my hotel. After the first section of tiny roads with climbs and descents through an area I was not familiar with, I found a potraviny where I bought some drinks. Then I continued the road and connected to Nr 21. This was area I recognized from my February return ride from Cheb to Prague.
I was led away from route 21 and into the Marianske Laze; where I repeated the same climb I did that day; all the way to almost 900 meters. This time, it was sunny and the descents went well.
A different picture from the snowy and frozen Marianske Lazne I saw a few months ago...
I attacked this climb in one piece, as it should be!
I completely remember this section! It was burnt into my soul
Here there was 5 km descent and then it climbed up all again
Revisiting this area in a summer setting was nice, it felt like payback time to that suffering I incurred in early February
Lot's of elevation here; the views were lovely and the temperatures were nice. Distance to destination was also dropping nicely. Less than 50 km to cover from here.
When I rode here in winter, this area so foggy that I only saw 20 meters. This entire area made me almost groggy. Today was so nice compared to that
Being back in the Czech Republic also filled me with joy. It meant my ride was almost over and my return trip to Belgium was being successful
Slowly navigating from Cheb to Sokolov and further on to Karlovy Vary. It is actually one way east, to the capital of this mini Empire
The condition of the roads was dreadful, there were deep potholes and I had to be careful. I made usage of my disc brakes to control the speed. It was not a comfy descent at all!!
Then another eight km ascent came, which was a different section from my previous ride. The afternoon views of Western Czechia were stunning.
Only 25 km left to Zlutice here. Honestly speaking, I was quite happy that I did not plan a full 200 km today. I could take it easy and enjoy the ride
Zlutice? This way please...
That church here made me feel at home in the Czech Republic. This is where I realized what I had done.
Only 5 km left here, but still climbs and descents
The last stretch was a cobbled 12% ascent, at the end of that road was my place to stay: Pension Harmonie.
I felt happy to be there. I took a shower, had a good dinner there and hit the sack earlier then usual. The next day would be rough: rounding up the last 120 km to Prague, then go to work and then to Czech courses. Good night!!
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