The Easy Day that Wasn't

Today was meant to be an easy day. In fact it was meant to be the easiest day of the entire Epic Elbe Ride. With a distance to be travelled of a measly 20 km, we all anticipated that we could enjoy a late start and a leisurely ride.

While the late start was enjoyed, it was then that the hotel informed us of a few small problems with our rooms. This necessitated a few late changes of plans, a trip into town to search the pharmacies and supermarkets, and an actual start after 12 noon.

Although the day was quite warm, to our relief much of the route was shaded by nearby trees, making the ride pleasant and relatively easy. Rather than following the elevated levee which had left us exposed on the past two days, the trees also gave us blessed relief from the unrelenting wind. The forecast is for another two of these hot days, before the sequence finally comes to an end, with temperatures predicted to drop by around 10C.

Our destination for the day was the resort town of Bad Wilsnack. The hotel was big, clean and comfortable. It even had a lovely lift. The entire hotel was surrounded by a sprawling treed garden, offering a lovely place to enjoy the afternoon.

Tomorrow is our first designated rest day. This will give us all a chance to recover our energy, wash our clothes, explore the town on foot, or enjoy a spa or massage. It will also give us an excuse to sleep in a little in the morning.Read more