3 Bayerwald - Baden - Berge

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Route: Regental Cycle Path (Chamerau - Bayerisch Eisenstein)

Distance: 84 kilometers

Elevation: approximately 1,300 meters

Weather: sunny and warm, pleasantly cool in the shade, slight headwind

My first bivouac night was okay. When I was asleep, I had nice dreams, but I was also awake for a long time twice. I was a bit cold because everything was damp from dew.

I woke up just before 6:45, but it was really freezing, so I didn't want to get up. It took a while, but gradually I brushed my teeth, had breakfast, got dressed, packed up, and when I unlocked my bike just after 8, the first ray of sunshine hit my face.

Then I started, going steadily on the same path as yesterday. Always with a view of the morning rain. I reached Miltach right away. And from there it went uphill. On a former railway track, so I hardly noticed the uphill gradient. I caught a glimpse of the much lower Blaibach Lake, where I became aware of the altitude difference.

Otherwise, I always rode through the forest, sometimes between steep rocks, sometimes over the forest. It went on like this for a while. And although I had no problem with my fitness, I started to get thirsty slowly because I only had a quarter liter left. Then I passed a spring where I could fill up my bottle - only one bottle because I had to climb up the hill. Eventually, I passed through small villages before going downhill again. Along the way, I passed a cyclist with a dog and talked to him until Viechtach. There I took a break, applied sunscreen, as the sun was burning hot by now.

After Viechtach, it got even tougher: uphill, uphill, uphill. The view from above of the Bavarian Forest was still amazing, but the uphill gradients - phew! Often, I didn't ride in the forest but between meadows or through villages, or past individual houses with animals. Once, I even rode on a self-built Angel Path!

High up in the Bavarian Forest, I found my savior: EC Linden unknowingly sponsored me 3 liters of water because there was a tap outside the clubhouse. Actually, it wouldn't have been that far to Regen anymore, but the midday heat was scorching, and there was no end in sight to the uphill sections. Just after kilometer 40, I took a break at a bench. There, in the shade, I had lunch and stayed for a while. But when I finally continued, I realized that I was still not rested. I managed the 10 kilometers to Regen, even though it continued to go uphill for a while.

Arriving in Regen, I sat down in the city center (which is not particularly worth seeing) in an ice cream parlor. Two girls, slightly younger than me, were sitting at the next table, and I talked to them. They were really nice. I sat there for a long time and drank cold drinks, which really strengthened me. At half past 2, I continued.

According to my plan, there were still a lot of altitude meters until Bayerisch Eisenstein, and I was really worried that I wouldn't make it. It was steep until Zwiesel, but now riding felt much easier again. Enjoying the view, I finally arrived in Zwiesel, and because everything was going so well, I kept going. Now I was riding on major roads, uphill, downhill. I was going slowly but steadily. For a while, I was riding closer to the Regen River; before, I had only seen it in larger cities. Here, it was already significantly smaller.

Eventually, I randomly noticed a small village bathing lake. An old man told me that everyone was allowed to swim there, which I took advantage of. The water was freezing! But refreshing. I swam a bit and lay in the sun to dry off.

Around quarter past 5, I continued. There were only 6 kilometers left to Bayerisch Eisenstein, but they were challenging: I climbed up on a cross-country ski trail until I reached the town. I rode slowly through the town, past a church and the railway museum, numerous restaurants, and the train station with the border crossing. The whole town seemed very touristy but also beautifully situated. I had dinner in a restaurant and finally found a place to stay for the night.