60.0Km, 4hr 45min, 660m total climb
So finally the day arrived when we got on the bikes! We landed in Prague yesterday at 12pm but were so tired we just ate in the airport and did a bit of shopping and then had a quiet evening unpacking and rebuilding the bikes and sorting the panniers out. Also spent a fair bit of time outside the hotel messing around with GPS and bikes in the morning after breakfast, putting the final bits and pieces together. We eventually hit the road into Prague at about 11am. We dropped into the old town past the Castle and crossed Karluv bridge which was just a crowd of people. Really nice though and at least no spot the Queen card sharks! Had a quick look around and then realised that navigating the streets chock full of dawdling Italian schoolkids and warmly dressed tourists with two fully loaded bikes that we couldnt put down wasn't going to be viable so we set off to the South West looking for cycle route 3. We found cycle route A1 and it seemed to go where we wanted it to, hugging the river most of the way. The cycle paths were a bit hit and miss, but the good bits were very good indeed, flat new tarmac and loads of room, poor bits were unmade tracks or even worse the bits that were about to be tarmac'ed and were deep-ish hardcore.
We took a pitstop at a riverside cafe place that seemed to be for a big horse training ground and were pleased that the prices out of town are alot cheaper than Prague City - £2 for a Staropramen Granat (Red Beer) and a diet coke. Got stuck in to our hazlenuts and Corny bars too.
We took one detour from the basic route as we were on the wrong side of the river, but found a strange community of allotment shed-cum-permanent dwellings sort of village. The roads were all unpaved so I guess the local council didn't totally approve. We had to double back after that as the place was only joined to civilisation by one road and a footbridge.
As we followed the river most of the day, it was pretty flat (which is good for me as I currently have legs like Olive Oyl), but had two climbs right at the end to get to Beroun. 1st gear all the way looking at Johanna disappearing rapidly!! Was a great start to the cycle in terms of comfort versus training.
We are staying in a hotel called Hotel OK, just outside Beroun tonight, at only £15 its a bargain and we are on ground floor so can keep the bikes in the room. Off out for dinner now.
Route and pics below, dont have the route from hotel to City. Weather was much better than the clouds predicted so long may that continue!
Click here >
http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1227500
Weather report: warmed up to 10 degrees, no rain, sun behind wispy clouds, perfect!
No comments:
Post a Comment