I did a couple of daily drawings after a lovely scrambled egg and ham breakfast (followed by strawberries – yum). I left the picture of a nuthatch (Kleiber) and the tinners rabbits for Mario and Lily to say thanks – which seemed inadequate after such generosity. Lily is learning the fiddle – she played me a couple of tunes while I painted.
I set off for the Czech border at around 10.30hrs (with a bit of dithering about direction, despite having been driven that way only the previous night).
Back down to ‘Hong Kong town’ aka Potūčky (past the café where Lily works) and turn left. I cycled along a deserted road (only saw one car all day) through endless fir tree forests following a burbling stream not far from the border. It was a gentle uphill all the way. I didn’t see any wildlife save one black squirrel and lots of birds squawking an alarm as they saw me pant my way past.
I couldn’t help think of my sister’s PhD topic “The Effects of Pine Forestation on Small Stream Ecology” (which is a bit of a mouthful to be sure – and I didn’t understand a word of it!). However – I’d asked Mario if there were fish in a stream we drove past the previous night and he’d replied that it was “too sour”, meaning acid, I guess.
When I got to Boži Dar I saw a Pension house/restaurant and decided to stop and have supper – it was getting very chill and dark, despite it being early afternoon. As I sat eating, the thunder and lightening started and it poured down outside. The guy who ran the place offered to bring Rowenna inside, which was really thoughtful. The rain looked set to last, so I decided there and then to stay the night. Glad I did, as it’s still raining now – and I have practically an entire apartment – double bed, kitchenette, own bathroom, comfy sofa – for €18, breakfast inclusive. It’s the low season too – as this is a SKI resort! In winter, the price rises to €30 a night.
It’s also much flatter riding tomorrow so hopefully can make an early getaway to make up for skiving today.
I set off for the Czech border at around 10.30hrs (with a bit of dithering about direction, despite having been driven that way only the previous night).
Back down to ‘Hong Kong town’ aka Potūčky (past the café where Lily works) and turn left. I cycled along a deserted road (only saw one car all day) through endless fir tree forests following a burbling stream not far from the border. It was a gentle uphill all the way. I didn’t see any wildlife save one black squirrel and lots of birds squawking an alarm as they saw me pant my way past.
I couldn’t help think of my sister’s PhD topic “The Effects of Pine Forestation on Small Stream Ecology” (which is a bit of a mouthful to be sure – and I didn’t understand a word of it!). However – I’d asked Mario if there were fish in a stream we drove past the previous night and he’d replied that it was “too sour”, meaning acid, I guess.
When I got to Boži Dar I saw a Pension house/restaurant and decided to stop and have supper – it was getting very chill and dark, despite it being early afternoon. As I sat eating, the thunder and lightening started and it poured down outside. The guy who ran the place offered to bring Rowenna inside, which was really thoughtful. The rain looked set to last, so I decided there and then to stay the night. Glad I did, as it’s still raining now – and I have practically an entire apartment – double bed, kitchenette, own bathroom, comfy sofa – for €18, breakfast inclusive. It’s the low season too – as this is a SKI resort! In winter, the price rises to €30 a night.
It’s also much flatter riding tomorrow so hopefully can make an early getaway to make up for skiving today.
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