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      Praha to Zvikov.: Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow

      Friday April 2, 2010, 134 km (83 miles) – Total so far: 1,137 km (706 miles)

      After a couple lazy days in Prague it is time to once more hit the road. The hope was to make it to Cesky Krumlov but it looks to be a little too far.

      It is a sunny albeit cold day. Soon the inevitable happens. Clouds take over the skies and it begins to.. snow. It actually snows! Momentarily. Then it just rains.

      Lunch isn’t had until after 90 km and 4 pm. Then it is only a short ride to Orlik castle where apparently a nice cheap hostel is found. Except it isn’t. They tell you to go elsewhere. Then those people tell you know. So you just keep riding. So fuck you Lonely Planet.

      There is another castle just to the south. Zvikov Castle. Apparently there are a few houses that rent out rooms. Except you can’t find any. On the way out of town you spot the cyclista sign and try 1 last time. Victory is found.

      Zikov to Cesky Krumlov: Time for a hiatus

      Saturday April 3, 2010, 107 km (66 miles) – Total so far: 1,244 km (773 miles)

      A tour of Zikov castle is worth the time and money. Guess who is the first guest of the year? That is right. Yours truly. Then it is off on the road once more. Pisek is a pretty town with an old stone bridge and cathedral. Not to mention all the pretty buildings in the square. Prachatice, further on also has a pretty square but by the time you arrive it is already 4.

      The legs ache. Even the smallest of hills becomes too much work. The muscles need some relaxing time. And as soon as Cesky Krumlov arrives they will get it too.

      At last the most beautiful of medieval villages comes to view. Time for a few days hiatus.

      Cesky Krumlov to Jindrichuv Hradec.: De ja vu

      Thursday April 8, 2010, 96 km (60 miles) – Total so far: 1,340 km (833 miles)

      It was a nice little hiatus as it was but as always the road ahead beckons. A late start followed by a tour of a nearby gothic monastery has you already behind the ball. Getting lost immediately after also does not help.

      Trebon is a pretty little town with a pretty little square. But with just a few short hours of daylight left it is time to move on and to Jindrichuv Hradec, tonight’s accommodation. Hey, you’ve been here before. Yews, this all looks somewhat familiar. So why not stay once more at the same hotel then? Sure, why not.

      To Znojmo.: Hello pretty bunkers

      Friday April 9, 2010, 116 km (72 miles) – Total so far: 1,456 km (905 miles)

      Slavonice, the first town of note, is quite pretty but unfortunately anything of note is closed for winter. “Bike routes’ take you on minor roads making for a pleasant ride. So close to the Austrian border, many bunkers are found along the way.

      You see a castle. It is pretty and all that but of course you are too late for a tour. It is a good thing you approach from the South. The long climb up would have been heartbreaking otherwise. A couple other castle ruins are found on route.

      Znojmo looks interesting. A hostel is found and surprise surprise the only customer there is you. How do they even make money doing this???

      Znojmo to Bratislava.: Hello Austria. Hello Slovakia

      Sunday April 11, 2010, 170 km (106 miles) – Total so far: 1,626 km (1,010 miles)

      Znojmo is quite pleasant. But after a tour of the underground tunnels (as distinct from the above ground 1s) it is time to get going. It is already after 11 but with a head wind speed is maintained throughout the day. The plan was to head to Vienna. But the fuckers in the hostel won’t take your reservation. You need a credit card they say. Easy No credit card though. So you just give the details of your expired card. They only use it if you don’t turn up. So after 3 days of this Sorry. No room for you. Fuckers.

      So you just go to Bratislava instead. There are none of those all so useful maps in Austria. So you just head in a South Easterly direction and hope for the best.

      After being in Austria a bit too long it is time to cross the border into Slovakia. How? You head north against the wind, then south. At last you come to March where a ferry awaits. And waits. And waits. Why isn’t the fucker coming over to pick you up? Hello?

      You move on. It will be dark enough as it is. Thanks for the unnecessary wait though. So you arrive in Bratislava. Finally. And get to the hostel. Sorry. We are full. Fuckers. There are some other hostels nearby though and if you do happen to luck out you can pitch the tent in the backyard of the 1st place. Did you mention yet that it is 8 degrees outside?

      Bratislava to Komarno.: Why hostel?

      Monday April 12, 2010, 118 km (73 miles) – Total so far: 1,744 km (1,084 miles)

      12—4 Bratislava to Komarno. 118 km

      After a shite couple nights in a hostel being woken up all through out the night by drunken douchebags it is certainly time to leave this place. And what wonderful weather to accompany you along the way. Rain

      That’s right, it rains. All day. Without letting up. Lucky you. The ride is quite nice up beside the river. You overtake some sort of ferry. The river on the left is a couple meters below but the land on the right is much further below the water line. Now that looks ominous. Soon however you find the damn and the lock. The water downstream is sever meters lower. Ahhh.

      Crossing over the bike trail loses the pavement. Speed drops as you ride on gravel. Good fortune, a sign says just 42 km to go, is immediately followed by bad, flat tire.

      At last Komarno is found and none too soon. Pensions here are expensive though. A relatively cheap room is found.

      Komarno to Budapesti: How to get to Ukraine?

      Tuesday April 13, 2010, 134 km (83 miles) – Total so far: 1,878 km (1,167 miles)

      From Komarno it is over the bridge and welcome to home of the Magyars. Important interneting trying to sort out the invitation letter for the Ukraine visa has you wasting an hour or so. You need to transfer some money over for the visa but there aren’t enough spaces in the boxes provided over the internet. So walk into a bank stupid. So you do. Transfer, no problem. But only if you have an account. Fuck.

      The day countiey. Apparently day. Wet. It rains the whole day. Apparently the Danube bike trail follows the Danube river but for most of the way there is no bike trail. Just a busy road with lots of trucks. It probably would have been better to just ride the direct route straight to Budapest then. Or stay North of the river contrary to the signs.

      Part of the signed route has you on a ferry crossing but although there is a ferry it doesn’t seem to be doing any crossing. Another time waster. Coming in to Budapest it is already night. The inevitable happens. Bam. A flat. Not so nice.

      Finaly the hostel is found. Yay Somehow everything is put into the lift and hauled up 4 flights of stairs. But somehow something sometime abouts went wrong. A big gash in the side of the tire is found. Ruined. Destroyed. Tomorrow’s job.

      Budapesti days.: Your first nappy. Congratulations

      Saturday April 24, 2010, 76 km (47 miles) – Total so far: 1,954 km (1,214 miles)

      To spend almost 2 weeks in the 1 place 1 would think a girl was involved. Alas no, not here. Meeting some expats

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