Part IV.

I am surprised by a little spa after a short ride through forest. In the middle of nowhere I found a spa on river bank with title RömERbadl. Probably Roma spa. I use a ramp to dip in water. But ti so cold in the morning so I am not going to sip whole body. I am on the road again in a while. Cycling path leads mostly on river both banks. It is a nice pleasure ride which only strong head wind makes harder. The path is getting boring as I am approaching Innsbruck. Beauty of Innsbruck is a good rewards. First of all I have not wanted to use a tent but mosquitos made me. Farmer who showed up around 8:30 p.m. did not trouble to get off his tractor and let me rest in peace on his farmland :)

Short showers comes while entering into Germany. Lucky there are just short so I keep going and dry our during cycling. A surface of cycling path changes from paved to off-road, gravel path. Landscape change and although it is easy fast ride long boring sections make me bored.

Another almost the same day. Here on cyclopath along rivers I see more cyclist and also long distance bikers. It is still too long distance to confluence of Inn and Danube Rivers, difference between Germany and Austria is hardly visible here. I several times unconsciously cross the border. Bigger difference is between cycling paths. Ones in Austria have better surface and are better marked. I stay for a night approximately 30 kilometers before Passau.

I do not spend much time at Passau and continue along Danube River into Austria again. Shortly after that I am definitely leaving easy cycling path on river banks behind and climb into hilly areas. The worst are first 3,5 kilometers of uphill. After that is "only" hilly. As I am in good condition I would like to reach Bohemian land before sunset. I am trying to follow path #5 which is probably marked as Schwarzenbergradweg. It is not so easy, I have to ask local people and et the end I am entering Germany for a while again.... Following the right route is harder then dread up hills. Netherlanders hikers who have been hiking all the way from Frankfurt in Germany report me I am just a few hundreds meters from the border. I stay for a night at the same camp at Nova Pec. Welcome back in Czech Republic :)

On the way north I am visiting Lipno reservoir, Cesky Krumlov - second most visited town in the country. When taking a rest in Ceske Budejovice I got SMS from a friend of mine Lucka. I can visit her and stay for a night. Problem is that she lives another 70 kilometers to the north. But it is a good motivation so I am in hurry to catch that. I am going through Hluboka nad Vltavou with famous chateau. One of the first new cycling path has #12 and was built with help of European Funds. Hilly terrain slow me down between Hluboka and Tabor. I lost the path circa 30 kilometers before Tabor so I am cycling on E55 busy road.

Well-rested I am heading in direction to Kutna Hora. First idea that I could already reach a hometown today is soon lost. It is more than 170 km and although my personal record is 186 km terrain is hilly and I do not fell like to give a try. I decide to do just 2/3 today and to get home tomorrow. I met another Netherlanders near Sazava. They left their car at Cheb (the westernmost situated town in Czech Republic) and have already done over 800 km by bicycle around the country. Just before sunset I am relaxing by a little pond, then moved another 15 kilometre and under cover of dark I found a place near Podebrady to sleep under the sky.

I am lazy in the morning. Wish to stay longer in my sleeping bag I am listening music. I am on the road around 8 am and with "just tow hours home" on my mind I am pedaling and getting closer home. My last stop is at hospital at Jicin where I am visiting a friend of mine Honza. Another tow hours I talk with nurses. I finished my civic services in the hospital just three months ago. Back at home I am around two pm.

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