I was so comfortable that I slept-in. So much for the early start!
On such a beautiful morning, it would have been wrong not to have a lazy breakfast while basking in the sun. So that’s what I did.
After mounting my steed I held a steady pace over rolling countryside to Tucapy.
Surprisingly I was full of beans and quite happy to attack the hills, spurred-on by the inevitable downhill rewards, and promise of noodles while people-watching at the castle of Červená Lhota.
The route became more arduous from there, not helped by the gusty headwind, but I made it to Jindřichův Hradec in good time, and celebrated with a cold beer.
By this stage the roads had become smaller and more isolated as they transformed into into rough cycle track and eventually gravel.
The bike was well tested and held up nicely. I am in good command of it now, I’ve adjusted to the extra weight, and the body is settled-in for long hours in the saddle.
Nevertheless, I was quite happy to stop often and take-in the countryside. I met a cyclist taking the route from the opposite direction. We exchanged knowing grins and a thumbs-up as we whizzed past each other.
It wasn’t long before I reached the Austrian border, but instead of crossing over I swung east towards Moravia. Austria can wait.
A few km outside Nová Bystřice I passed a lake and decided to camp there. I cooked dinner and collapsed into my sleeping bag.
My phone battery was dead now, so no GPS tracking, but I reckon I covered approximately 85 km today, diversions included. Not bad.
More photos and videos to come (need wifi…)