Garmin Activity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1354988205
199 km, 8h36, elevation 1728m. Trip rating 85%
Two-thirds of the ride completed and today's hotel was in the Czech republic. That meant time was flying. I left the Leipzig hotel early in the morning.
The first eight km or something were a repetition of the day before.
I had to take a few hurdles in the city center, which slowed me down.
Leipzig city center
Pffiew, finally I am outside in the open again.
The excitement of this ride was that I would arrive in Czechia in the evening. It would mean I have cycled across Germany three times this year
cute cycling lane
It was chilly in the morning and I cycled a few hours with jacket and trousers
Day five already!
Directions...
Early morning lake
Again it was very quiet
Friday the 2nd of September meant that most people were or at work or at school.
A village called Roda, written in yellow and black, just like the Dutch soccer club
Another construction work site, but I could pass with my bike
Panoramas of east Germany
Historical celebration of some local train station
This area of the country was a constant switch between open fields and antique city centers
This reminds me an awful lot of Stara Boleslav, even the church looks the same
Maybe these towns used to be part of the same empire, which explains the same architecture
I read that it would be raining on Saturday and these clouds stacking up firmed that belief
The summer is slowly fading away. The only thing I can do about it is look back in pride
I stopped here to take of my jacket and wear shorts. It was getting warmer.
And I enjoyed this nectarine
Tasty fruits
The weather truly changed for the better
Going to the right here
Castle or Schloss in German
This was a special dot on the map for me: It was not even noon yet but I only had 99.9 km to cover here.
I took a break here, had some food and studied the map.
I sat on this bench, charged GPS, made movie clip and enjoyed the moment.
When I started cycling again, I noticed my GPS indicated this road as "Elberadweg", or cycling path along the Elbe. So this was the Elbe, the same river that runs to Brandys nad Labem near my place, or Brandys an der Elbe in German. This all meant I was already very close to home.
This was a nice part of the ride
After a few miles I saw that Dresden was indicated on the map, only 27 km. And Dresden was only 175 km from my place.
Making a C turn here to cross the bride and the river.
View over the bridge
The afternoon ride turned out to be like a fairy tale
The part along the Elbe was almost 20 km and so flat, which aided my average speed a lot. There were quite some tourists here as well.
Bartman along the Elbe in between Leipzig and Dresden
Well-arranged cycling infrastructure
Continuing my way to Dresden
17 km left to Dresden, the story with a remarkable history. At the very end of World War II, the allied forces completely bombed and shelled this city as a show of force against Russia and Nazi Germany. Tens of thousands died because of this and since there were no German army forces to be seen, many consider this a war crime.
High speeds along the Elbe
Beautiful bush of flowers
Sunflowers
Very beautiful panoramas
Eventually the Elbe led me into Dresden
Main city of this bundlesland, Dresden
I stopped at a gas station for a snack and a drink and then I cycled through the city, which was again pretty annoying because of heavy traffic
German Autobahn
There was some good infrastructure though...
There was a very long section with horrible cobbles here, that really hurt to pass over. I cycled the first 500 meters but because of heavy impact I walked the rest. Did not want to get a flat tire so close from home.
Just look at these ridiculous cobbles
I felt relieved once I left Dresden behind me. The city was not remarkably beautiful, it was to be very honest, just a city. Right after leaving Dresden elevation gain started to soar. Actually there was one segment within Dresden where I climbed from 100 to 200 meters. And then after Dresden it continued to 300.
It makes absolute sense if you think about Czechia's altitude, which is around 350 for the northern part.
There was an ice cream restaurant here where I could buy a few bottles of water.
After that I realized it was less than 50 km to my hotel and therefore Czechia was close!
That made me feel proud
But those miles were plenty of elevation gain. With several steep stingers too
This area gave me every reason for looking around and taking many pictures
+300 meters here
Rounding up my third crusade of Germany, in four months time...
The last panoramas within Germany
Freedom in this no mans land
In dry conditions this rim brake bike is reliable
Apparently there is a cycle path from Aachen to here, which spans across Germany. Interesting to know
Almost there...
Having a blast on this Roubaix
Yeah I made many many pictures in this area
This part was also pretty steep
I had my last break here, ate an apple and took a moment. Then it went straight into Czech republic
Another place ending with the suffix -itz. It seems like this is connected to -ice which you see a lot in Czechoslovakia
Sebnitz, could be Sebnice in Czech
One last steep descent before passing the border
Here we are! Czech Republic! After five days of cycling I made it. What a great feeling!
I made a video report here as well
Ceska Republika
Ustecky region, Dolni Poustevna
A glance back to where I came from: Germany's Sachsen region
Sluknov was already indicated on the map. It was a mere 15 km from this spot.
Evening panoramas in Czech republic
first thing I noticed upon entry is the poor quality of the roads
Sunset
This sure looks Czech
Only 5 km to Sluknov
Sluknov, I made it
But I had some difficulty finding the hotel. From the address I could figure out I needed to go to the town of Kralovstvi, but I could not find the hotel...
I asked several people and when I saw a police officer, he offered to ride there slowly so I could just follow him. That was very kind of him.
One thing was very disappointing about the hotel, no WIFI, even though booking.com mentioned it. I just had a meal that night, took a shower and hit the sack. I would be home the next day anyway...
Probably first and last time that I will cycle 199 km haha
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