Cycling from Bamberg to Pecs

 So yesterday was the last day of my trip. I’ve tried to get up early, but I couldn’t really, I slept until almost 7 am. While I was packing my stuff a nice lady showed up — my friend’s mom as it turned out — she suggested a bakery and wished me a good trip back home. I love it when people have the courage to talk to a stranger or half stranger. Then I hopped on my bike and started cycling. First of course I stopped at the bakery then I went thru Kaposvar until the first hill of the day. I chose the route 66 instead of 67 it seemed much safer, however there were more hills to climb… I know the road and I stopped before every big hill — big, just to clear that up — because the road was really steep and I needed fresh legs.  Near Sasd my GPS claimed was a cycling route. The traffic wasn’t that heavy on the highway, but I thought I would be nice if I didn’t get hit by a car, so I followed the GPS. Fist the road was fine, small street with relatively smooth asphalt, then it turned...

 Today was a great day! I was finally back on the road! First I had to say goodbye to my relatives — that was kinda sad — then I went back on the road! I cycled about 30 km then I visited my brother had a nice cold drink there and I continued my trip. I didn’t get to far before I visited my longtime seen friend and her husband and kid. I’ve only saw them on pictures in the past 4 years so it was great to finally re-meet them in person.  My way from lake Balaton to Kaposvar was really nice. I had only a minor headwind and I had to meet buncha people. First I met some locals at Somogybabod’s only working restaurant/bar. They asked me if I was traveling far, then I told them I’m coming from Bamberg. They were absolutely staggered they said I have dedication. I do, haha. Then I cycled on the remains of the old highway that used to connect Kaposvar to Balaton. It was great to see the villages that we used to drive through. I’ve stopped near Kaposvar at lake Deseda, I had a few beer...

 Today was a rest day. My body really needed it. Philippe was right when he said that we need a rest day every week. I slept 12 hours and ate 2 huge langos for breakfast and 3 huge portion of spaghetti for lunch. I think I’m starting to catch up on the burnt calories — probably not — most days on my trip I’ve burned more than 5,000 calories. During daytime while I had my watch on. We went on two sail trips, on in the morning one in the evening. It’s so interesting that both trips happened the same day, but the environment was completely different. In the morning there was really little wind, but buncha sunshine, in the afternoon it was the absolute opposite. I had the chance to sail the ship both occasions, it was really cool but strange. We watched the sun go down from the middle of the lake, it was gorgeous. I’ve only ridden something like 20 km today, my Achilles tendon didn’t hurt while I was riding, but it did while I was walking. I hope it’ll be better tomorrow and I can slee...

 Today I made it to Lake Balaton! It was a very long ride with huge hills (I gained 1,058 m elevation) and I even got lost so I had to ride an extra 20 km…  The morning was nice, I got up early, and started my ride. First 20-30 km was okay no big hills, but then I saw the shit flying to the fan. And eventually it did hit the fan. It started with little hills, but then I saw the sign that said 10% incline in 3,000 meter. I gotta say that was a long walk…  After I made it thru Bakony I needed some food, however all the restaurants I checked were closed… So I bought a bottle of Gatorade and ate my snacks. I was close to Balaton, where I was staying with my family anyways. I climes the only two hills that are on the cycling trail around Balaton. As I refilled my bottle at a water fountain a few youngsters came with huge bags on their bikes. As it turned out they were cycling around Balaton. They asked me about my trip, I told them I’m coming from Germany they were absolutely ...

 Today after I woke up I got a really nice breakfast and I was off to Hungary! It was easier and faster to take the highway instead of the cycle lane. So I did. There were some cars but the traffic really wasn’t that heavy. Honestly I’m not completely in love with Austrian people, however I was absolutely shocked how much they respect cyclists. When they were overtaking they went to the other lane to do so, if someone was coming in the other lane they waited and then went past me. That was amazing.  The border was only 60 km I got there pretty quickly. And what a feeling it was. I stopped at the country sign took a picture with it, some people started applauding from a random car… it was such a beautiful moment. My heart was very full at that moment. I left the border and started crying. I couldn’t believe I finally made it! ‘I am home, I am home!’ kept going in my head. I was only away for 9ish days but because of the tiredness I’ve completed lost track of time, it rather fel...

 Today is a very special day. I’m writing my blog from an actual bed. I’m lying in a bed right now! After 5 days of sleeping on nothing but the bare ground in my tent it really feels special!  My morning started really slowly. I didn’t really have energy to start the day, I was hungry but I didn’t want to eat. Then I started cycling and my appetite finally came  back.  My first stop was at a restaurant where I drank a beer and had the opportunity to check out a nuclear power plant— from the outside of course. Allegedly the power plant was built in the 80’s but never got used. Then I had another stop to have lunch by that time I cycled more than 50 km. After my lunch break I only wanted to stop in Vienna, but it was so full of people I rather came to my parents friend’s house instead. If I had to sum up today in one word that would be headwind. All freaking day. I was lucky because near Vienna a road cyclist who was jut a little bit faster than me overtook me so I cou...

 Today was a great day! I slept like a baby, yesterday had a toll on me for sure. In the morning we arrived to Linz, where we had breakfast at the oldest bakery in the city! I finally got to try the original Linzer cake. It was amazing! I can’t even describe it.  After Linz we headed towards Vienna, but Philippe wanted to see the nazi camp at Mauthausen so we had to say goodbye. It was amazing to meet him, he helped me so much. He helped me fix my tire he helped me get a different perspective on cycling. I’m grateful for the time we’ve spent together.  Saying goodbye was hard, but it was also nice to be alone. At the end of the day that’s why I’m here to be alone. Now I had to rediscover my own rhythm, my own body(?). Our breakfast was so much I wasn’t really hungry till 3 am. Then I found a Spar and people who were eating something in front of it. I entered the shop and asked a worker what were the people eating. She said leberkäse. Wow. I never had a leberkäse in my lif...

 Today we woke up near a camping. You probably know what that means. Then we went to a bike shop in Deggerdorf because my back wheel still made some funny noise and we checked and the spokes were really lose… We hoped that would fix the sound issue but it didn’t, the problem is in the bearings. But at least I know now that the spokes won’t break.  We started cycling around 11 am and got to Passau pretty soon. We had a beer, some lunch and then did a minimal sightseeing. It’s a really nice city, it reminds me of the Croatian cities like Dubrovnik or Split. Small beautiful streets everywhere. Simply just beautiful. After Passau we got to the German Austrian border really quickly. It’s the second milestone of the trip. The day before yesterday I reached the Danube, and now I just have to cycle across Austrian and I am back at home! I get excited just by thinking about it!  Then we cycled some more. Today we were on the bikes for 6 and a half hour and we did 140 km. That mean...

 What a day today was… You wouldn’t believe it. I don’t believe it how would you believe it?! It was a huge emotional roller coaster all day long. First I woke up around 1 am, some animal was wondering around in the bushes. That was quite unpleasant, then it took me almost 2 hours to get back to sleep. Then at 4 am is started to rain! It freaking rained all day long! I left camp as soon as possible, and started to look for a place to have breakfast. But all the ducking benches and tables were soaking wet! Damn it! I eventually had breakfast in a bus stop because I just couldn’t go any further. Then the rain got heavier which sucked even more… After breakfast I started cycling, apart from the rain it was quite good, I really enjoyed it. After and hour of riding I got to Regensburg, a really nice city situated on the riverbank. I did some sightseeing on my bike and then went to a mall to buy some new breaks. Oh yeah. New breaks… The GPS took me on a road that lead to a hill — which i...

 Today I woke up at 6 am and started cycling 0642 sharp. I had a long day ahead so I had no time to waste. I only had breakfast after a few kilometers. It was really nice, I found a table next to the canal. While I was eating a few ships passed by it was quite interesting. I was paddling fast, by lunch time I did more then 75 kilometers, so I looked for a nice restaurant and had a great well deserved lunch — and a beer. As it turned out one of the waitresses was from Hungary. I asked her in Hungarian for advice, she was confused and asked me if I spoke English or German. I said how about Hungarian. She was just as surprised as me.  After lunch I hit the road again and only stoped at the river Danube. I reached the Danube! From now on that’s the only thing I have to fallow until Vienna! What an achievement! I took a quick nap on a bench and started searching for my new home. I found a nice place in the woods if only it wasn’t on the top of a freaking mountain.  I cycled mo...

 Today was the day I left my friends. I spent 3 magical day with them in Bamberg, but it was time to leave. I was worried at the night before. I didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t know where I was gonna sleep there was too many questions… After I said goodbye to my friend Chris I got immediately lost. I took a wrong turn and I had to go back to the exact same spot I started my journey 10 minutes before. Eventually I found the cycling lane I was looking for and I was finally on track. First I cycled 25 km. It wasn’t that hard, although my bike was heavy as a bulldozer. I starched and ate a little chocolate to reenergize myself.  My second spot was supposed to be before Nuremberg, but I had such a great momentum I didn’t felt like stopping. I did stop in Nuremberg and oh boy what a beautiful city that is. I checked out the outside of the castle, I and then went to the city center. I had my nice stretching and some leftover pizza that my friends gave me.  After Nuremberg I...