| Day | 1. |
| Date | 10.7.2004 |
| Distance [km] | 104,2 |
| Time | 5:12:24 |
| Average speed [km/hour] | 19,7 |
| Maximum speed [km/hour] | 53,5 |
| Total [km] | 104,2 |
The idea of cycling all the way from my home in Nova Paka to the Italian Dolomites first came to me back in 1996. I bought bike panniers and all the necessary equipment. As a test ride with the panniers, I cycled to Aš and back that same summer. But it took me another seven years to actually make the journey to the Dolomites, as during those years I had been travelling to the USA every summer. So, finally, on 10th July 2004, I set off. My first stop came after just 16 km, in Jičín. I wanted to say goodbye and have a beer with my close friends Jirka and Dáňa. After this short break, I continued all the way to Prague against a very strong headwind. On this first day, I had a major crisis and kept wondering whether I really should continue the journey. Finally, I left my bike at my friend's sweet shop, "Cukrárna u Jezerky", and spent the night at Marketa's apartment.
| Day | 2. |
| Date | 11.7.2004 |
| Distance [km] | 99,91 |
| Time | 05:32:45 |
| Average speed [km/hour] | 18 |
| Maximum speed [km/hour] | 51 |
| Total [km] | 207 |
I leave Prague through Kunratice and Jesenice and continue further south. After crossing the Sázava River, there is the first steep uphill climb. I am very slow, the sky is cloudy, and my bad mood continues. In the evening, I catch sight of Temelín, the nuclear power station, and decide to pitch my tent near Milevsko.
| Day | 3. |
| Date | 12.7.2004 |
| Distance [km] | 98,18 |
| Time | 05:26:39 |
| Average speed [km/hour] | 18,1 |
| Maximum speed [km/hour] | 55,5 |
| Total [km] | 307,6 |
The weather is still the same on the third day, so I take several breaks to wait out the showers. I still have around 30 kilometres to pedal before reaching Temelín, but the terrain is becoming smoother and cycling is getting easier. Near Arnoštov, I enter a military zone. The nature here is beautiful. The first short but very steep uphill section forces me to walk the bike. As a reward, I get a nice long downhill almost all the way to Nová Pec. I pitch my tent at the official campsite in Nová Pec. The campsite is not very good; there is not even any hot water. Most of the campers are people who are travelling down the Vltava River.
| Day | 4. |
| Date | 13.7.2004 |
| Distance [km] | 111,58 |
| Time | 06:18:33 |
| Average speed [km/hour] | 17,6 |
| Maximum speed [km/hour] | 53 |
| Total [km] | 421,2 |
Heavy rain wakes me up. I decide to take down my tent and get into Austria as quickly as possible, otherwise I might never leave. I cross the border at Zadní Zvonková. My arrival at the checkpoint seems to be quite interesting for the Austrian customs officer. The rain is so heavy that I don't take a picture of my first border crossing by bicycle. The rain finally stops around noon and I can dry out. Near Obermühl, I reach the well-known Danube cycling path. After just 12 kilometres on the path, I have to cross the Danube River. The bridge shown on my map has disappeared. The ferry costs €2.2.
Cycling paths usually lead along rivers, but because of the detour I have to tackle my first several-kilometre-long uphill climb to the village of St. Agatha. I don't know the elevation gain, but I can feel that this is my first real uphill test. An hour after pitching my tent at the edge of a forest, I have some visitors. A young couple had seen me cycling through their village and, as it was almost sunset, decided to find me and offer me a place to stay for the night. They also like cycling, so they know what it is like to cycle in rainy weather. As I already have my tent set up and dinner cooked, I simply thank them. They leave me with an invitation to breakfast, just one kilometre away... I sleep near Tollet.
| Day | 5. |
| Date | 14.7.2004 |
| Distance [km] | 121,35 |
| Time | 06:49:04 |
| Average speed [km/hour] | 17,8 |
| Maximum speed [km/hour] | 53,5 |
| Total [km] | 546,2 |
My bicycle suffers its first defect near Lambach the next day. The front reflector on my left pedal comes off. I repair it with a strip of cloth. When I was planning the tour, I contacted www.rakousko.cz, and they sent me basic maps of the long-distance cycling paths free of charge. I try to follow them now. The problem is that the paths have numbers on the maps, while the road signs use names. Rare exceptions are the Danube path #1 and the path along the Inn River #3. I am following #4 now, but before Schwanenstadt I get lost. In a small village, I turn back and meet two Canadians cycling in the opposite direction. They are lost as well. I find the correctly marked path in the next town.
I cycle along the shore of Lake Attersee in the late afternoon. I have to make another detour around Lake Mondsee. Every cloud has a silver lining. While I am cooking my dinner on a bench near the lake, a woman comes up to me.
| Day | 6. |
| Date | 15.7.2004 |
| Distance [km] | 51,42 |
| Time | 03:40:09 |
| Average speed [km/hour] | 14,0 |
| Maximum speed [km/hour] | 44,5 |
| Total [km] | 599,5 |
The rain stops around noon and, despite the dark, cloudy sky, I am back on the road. Otherwise, I will never reach the Dolomites. I cycle through the little tourist town of St. Gilgen and, with occasional showers, climb up to my first mountain pass (1,400 m). The pass is part of the "Salzburger Radmarathon". Drivers have to pay a toll, but cyclists can pass for free. For the first time, I can hear the typical sound of cowbells. As I am too lazy to pitch my tent, I spend the night in an abandoned hayloft.
| Day | 7. |
| Date | 16.7.2004 |
| Distance [km] | 108,02 |
| Time | 05:57:13 |
| Average speed [km/hour] | 18,1 |
| Maximum speed [km/hour] | 49,5 |
| Total [km] | 708,9 |
Seventh day on the road — I finally have a whole day of sunny weather without a single shower. The morning is still cloudy, but there is no rain and the sky gradually clears. I follow the "Amadé Radmarathon" route. A short uphill section is followed by a long downhill all the way to Bischofshofen. The next section leads along the Salzach River, where I follow the Tauernradweg. I notice a bump on my front wheel. I manage to reach the town of Fusch without any problems. They sell tyres at the petrol station, but unfortunately only for road bikes, while I have a Trekking Fox. I decide to sleep under the open sky and watch a beautiful sunset. I plan to visit the town of Bruck in the morning to buy a new tyre.