Garmin Activity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1611605877
108km, 5h08, 1704hm
On Sunday, I planned to check out the forest area on both sides of the border.
First action of the day was going to Rozvadov, to the German border. The skies were grey and sometimes a drop of rain.
Rozvadov is where I pass the border by car, so I knew the place.
The first few miles already gave me a lot of elevation gain. It set the tone for the day.
In Rozvadov I found Eurovelo Route 13, aka the Iron Curtain Trail.
Funny thing, as soon as I arrived in Germany the weather got better. I looked back and I saw that the hills of the forest isolated the weather. So I decided to continue on the German side only
Landskreis
A few meters made me understand that the roads were so much better in Germany
The contrast in weather was huge! I enjoyed it big time.
It gave me new courage to pursue my journey.
22 km done. I was navigating to the place Furth im Wald
In Germany, I went south along the Oberpfaelzer Wald.
Say it once again: Die Bundesbahn ist wunderbar!
General feeling of the ride was heavy winds and many uphills, both of which hurt my progress big time
At least it was dry and I was in a new area
In March 2016 I explored the Bayrischer Wald which is more south on the map
Eslarn, I saw that place studying the map
This segment in Germany made me think back about my trips last year from Prague to Belgium. I cycled across Germany three full times.
It was very windy, and I was lucky enough to suffer from head winds.
Germany! Ever since I hit it with bicycle, my view to this country has changed.
Honestly: climbing 4-5% with fierce head winds is very tiring! And I felt tired from yesterday also.
This area is very hilly!
Here is where the steepest and longest climb began: constantly 9% and 150 meters height gain at once.
I was resolved to take it in one go, which I did!
The top was located at 725 meters. Higher than all of Belgium!
I had already decided that I would not do a double century today, so I just relaxed with it.
Welcome to the Nature Park "Oberpfaelzer Wald"
Apparently there was an 830 meter hill to the right, but I went left
Time was ticking and I had to catch the train in Domazlice, so I navigated directly there. It meant 20 km less of cycling. I wold cross the border a bit earlier than at Furth im Wald
Wandering about in East |Germany
There was a magic atmosphere surrounding the ride. Probably the international aspect helped it a little
Two international rides in two weeks, not bad at all!
I was often checking the next instructions of my GPS, because I was curious where the border crossing would be
In the middle of nowhere...
At the top of another hill
Maybe I was a bit lazier today, taking it very easy. No shame in that I suppose?
These roads were very consistently smooth. So different from Czechia
I was close to the border now...
I saw two border crossings here, so I went to check out both of them.
Border crossing Hell in 3 km. Was I supposed to be worried with that name?
I first cycled to the smaller border crossing. There was a scenic area with history about the Iron curtain. I took the time to read a bit about this history. It made me think a lot
Btw great how my Schwalbe tires took on this patch of off road without issues.
Then it was time for the official border crossing. It went downhill big time here. I had my top speed here of 58
Czech and German place names
Aaaand back in Czech republic...
Ceska Republica, Plzensky Kraj. I stopped at the first Potraviny for water and food
Then it was 26 km left to Domazlice. I checked my phone and noticed that I would be taking the 16.10 train.
I took a break in small town somewhere and continued my path. It was around 14.00
In those last 25 km there was a lot of action and hills
Domazlicko, the local recreation area
A first climb brought me to 620 meters.
I thought it would stop there, but there was more...
Hustling in the hills of Cesky Les
Here was the start of a climb that took me to almost 800m, the highest point of the whole weekend
View from a high hill
It was 778m to be precise
Then there was a very long descent to 430m. Some ice forced me to stop, apart from that my hands were working heavy to manage it all on rim brakes. Once again: disk brakes rock!
That big descent led me very close to Domazlice, where I would take the train
Even the last segments had some nasty stingers
The city center of Domazlice
I found the station very easily
Ticket for 300 CZK and I had time to buy some food and drinks
This weekend I only did 310 km, but with nearly 5000m of climbing. Not bad at all...
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