To Melbourne overnight
6. juli, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Fly to Melbourne with Sharp Airlines in the afternoon then check into Hyatt Essendon Fields before tramming it into Melbourne Central.
I meet Ben in the Food Court for tea and then tram it back to theLes mer
From foggy Melbourne to cloudy Prague
7.–8. jul., Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
I wake up to a foggy Melbourne. I have a wax appointment at Essendon Fields shopping centre. I then get the shuttle bus to Tullamarine International airport and check-in.
The flight is delayed byLes mer
Exploring on the HOHO bus
8. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Too early to check in so, I have to go exploring. Good thing I got a decent sleep on the plane 😊
Wenceslas Square Hotel
9. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
My accommodation. Once again I find a quirky one. I'm up on the 5th floor.
My room is 2 stories with the bedroom in the loft bit.
Great spot. In the new town area. Close to the train
Train, bus trip to Kutna Hora
9. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
33 people met our guide Pavel at the Prague railway station and took 2 trains and a bus to Kutna Hora, east of Prague. There were Danes, a Lithuanian, US, Hong Kong, poms, Aussies ( me and a coupleLes mer
More Kutna Hora
9. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
The Bone Church
9. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
This church is amazing. Spectacularly bizarre but fascinating. It has 2 stories, the bottom story is where the bones are, the top story is the church bit.
The Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) is a GothicLes mer
St Barbara's Cathedral
9. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
St. Barbara’s Church is a massive, spectacular Gothic cathedral funded entirely by mining wealth and dedicated to the patron saint of miners.
Status Symbol: Miners started building it in 1388 toLes mer
Traditional dinner and dance
9. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Another "Get your Guide" activity today was a traditional dinner and dance.
A bit disappointing. The food was average and music a bit uninspiring but the drinks flowed!
The dancing was good. TheLes mer
Karlovy Vary day trip
10. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Another guided tour today. Only 13 people this time. There were Spaniards mostly, 2 Italians, 1 Israeli, 1 from Cyprus and me.
Minibus ride today, 2 hours west of Prague.
The countryside crops wereLes mer
Becherovka is born
10. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Becherovka of Karlovy Vary is currently the bestselling liqueur in the segment of bitter herbal liqueurs, and thus it is no surprise that it is often called the 13th spring of Karlovy Vary.Les mer
More Karlovy Vary
10. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Change of hotel
11. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Today I move to a new hotel, Miss Sophie's Downtown, opposite the grand train station. Today I meet up with the Intrepid cycling group.
I have a room-mate, Ursi from Switzerland.
I go for anotherLes mer
A history lesson
11. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Prague is one of Europe's oldest and most beautiful capitals, with a history stretching back more than 1,100 years. It developed around the 9th century when the first castle was built on a hillLes mer
Miss Sophie's
12. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
A boutique hotel, a bit more up market than the other one but all part of the bicycle tour package.
First day with the cycling tour.
12. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Today we get fitted to our bikes and go on an 18 km orientation ride around Prague. I opted for an ebike, half the group of 15 are probably on ebikes.
Then we have free time. Ursi and I find a lovelyLes mer
Prague to Cesky Krumlov
13. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Train from Prague to Cesky Krumlov via Ceske Budejovice, the home of Budweiser beer.
Lovely ride, hot. Beautiful town, with a small river running through it. After we settle in we jump in the riverLes mer
Our bunch
14. juli, Tsjekkisk Republikk ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Random pics of us
Over the border
14. juli, Østerrike ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
44 KMs from Cesky Krumlov to Lipno. Hot again.
Again, very pretty countryside, through farms as well as forest.
From Lipno we get minibussed over the border of Austria and stay at Amstetten.
Amstetten to Melk via the Danube
15. juli, Østerrike ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Today we get to the Danube River then follow it along to Melk.
It is so pretty along the river, I stop to take a lot of photos but have to cycle fast to catch up, even with an e-bike!!
Melk is a veryLes mer
Melk to Reidling
16. juli, Østerrike ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Continuing along the Danube. 68 km today
We are in Apricot country. Apricots done in every way possible.
We also ride through vineyards.
Again hot and humid but I drink lots more water today, withLes mer
Vienna
17. juli, Østerrike ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
We made it to Vienna. Today is the last day of riding of the first stage.
We ride through farm paddocks, villages and a lot of it along a very long dam wall.
When we stop at a supermarket for a bitLes mer
Rest day in Vienna
18. juli, Østerrike ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Today is a rest day. Very muchly needed. Recovering from the heat more than the riding I think. We all feel it.
After a lay-in, a few of us go to a very flash laundromat to do some laundry. It's veryLes mer
First official day of Stage 2
19. juli, Østerrike ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
The newbies have a bike fitting, then we all go on a short ride around Vienna, ending with a cuppa and cake made by pensioners. As promised by the guides, the traffic is much slower and we feel okLes mer
Capital to Capital
20. juli, Slovakia ⋅ 🌧 22 °C
82 km to Bratislava.
Big day. Not as hot 👏👏👏
Today is a long ride but as always, very pretty. It's not too "hairy" leaving Vienna as it was coming in.
Along the Danube, through sunflowerLes mer
















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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