5 Moldau - Reservoir - Shelter search

Monday, 10th August 2020

Route: Moldau Cycle Path (Kvilda - Jenisov)

Kilometers: 66

Altitude: approx. 700 meters

Weather: warm, but not too hot, very sunny, light wind

7:27 (Krissi)

Good morning. New day, new luck - finding the right way. Alex was close to abandoning the route yesterday, but because we exerted ourselves and increased our daily goal from 500 meters altitude to over 1200 meters, we decided to take it slower today. Max, Nico, and Julle even looked for a shortcut yesterday. And if all goes well, we will only cover about 60km today (including detours).

Yesterday we weren't capable of much. So we cuddled up in our bed, listened to music, and chatted a bit. It was already over around (I think) 10:30 pm.

11:20 (Julle)

Break. We've already completed half of our route, but today it's only about 50km. So if we go up to Nova Pec, but maybe we'll go further. What we've done so far: get up, shop, have breakfast, ride our bikes.

Currently, our path is uphill, but we've already done a lot downhill today as well. Beautiful! With forests and meadows and not a single field in sight. We are quite close to the German border, and everything here is quite touristy, with many hikers and cyclists. We once passed three older Germans, and the woman fell and ended up in the ditch, with her e-bike on top of her.

12:00 (Alex)

We are currently taking a break at the top of the mountain in a beautiful spot with a bench, a table, green stones, and trees.

Earlier, we had many earworms, and one of them I want to highlight: "We’re riding with Bob!" So Krissi and Julle took the song literally and drove left and right curves on a straight path (although they weren't quite sure where left and right was at first, and almost had an accident...) We were also creative and changed the lyrics of the song: "We are the women on a great journey! We ride our bikes!" (Once again, Max is ignored or forgotten...)

Unfortunately, we took a break earlier (at Julle's last entry) at a very inconvenient place (in the middle of the path and uphill), where we ate cookies and gummy bears. Now we don't have any appetite at this perfect spot anymore (except Max, of course, he can always eat!) In the meantime, two other groups have passed by and wanted to take a break at this perfect spot. But for once, we were the first ones here, and we deserve it more than the others with their e-bikes! (And yes, this time I can make fun of the e-bike riders as well.) So we are quite selfish.

Max is currently sharing his gummy bear snakes, which he carries in a huge, heavy plastic box. Apparently, the normal challenge is not enough for him because he also packed Julle's sleeping bag and sleeping mat on his bike.

Now the next group is approaching, making us feel even more guilty. Now everyone is having one more snake, and then we'll ride on!

14:12 (Julle)

It's pause time again. This time already in Nova Pec at the lake, the Moldau reservoir. Someone is playing the guitar. Now we're going into the water. Waah! Cold!

14:45 (Krissi)

As Julle just announced, we were in the water. It was cold. We're just chilling here now, eating again, even though we're not hungry. It's only the first proper meal today. Before that, we only had sweets.

But now let's talk about the beautiful route today. From our highest point, it went downhill for quite a while, followed by smaller uphill sections. Then we came across a beautiful bridge with access to the Moldau River, and we dipped our feet into the cold water. Then a little photoshoot, and after that, we continued the program. I tried a little shortcut back to the path. It wasn't very successful - I had to push my bike. After that, we rode along the train tracks for a long time, with a row of trees and forest, occasionally with a view of the Moldau River.

In Nova Pec, we'll see if we can find accommodation somewhere. I hope we're lucky. It's still early afternoon...

18:41 (Julle)

I'm happy! Finally, after 2.5 hours of searching, we found accommodation! It was hard. After leaving the beautiful bathing spot, we went to Blizsi Lhota, where we inquired at the hotel, but unfortunately, it was full. Nico and I treated ourselves to a cola soda from the tap for 40 crowns, which tasted like Jägermeister-Cola. Because Horni Plana is a big place, we took the ferry there to find something to sleep.

We asked everywhere, Alex called every place, Max, Nico, and I looked on the internet and on the map, Krissi asked around. Everywhere we got the answer: "Everything's full, peak season." It was terrible. We got to the point where we discussed whether to go back to Nova Pec, take the train to Krumau, or sleep in the church. Then, on Max's advice, Nico found something on Air B'n'B. We were about to book when Alex called a bungalow landlord. And he actually had 5 (!!) beds left, nothing more. We immediately agreed and weren't even that happy because we couldn't believe it. On the way, we asked a few more times, but we couldn't find anything else either. Actually, this campsite is 3km outside, in Jenisov. Then we arrived, and it was true! The older man showed us a room for 2 and a bungalow for 3, and it's great: really old, everything very cramped, but clean showers and toilets, a restaurant, a kitchenette in the bungalow, breakfast included, we have a fantastic view, and all incredibly cheap.

20:59 (Nico)

We're currently sitting on the shore of Vodni Nadrz Lipno 1, a reservoir of the Moldau River. There are some ugly ducklings and crippled swans in front of us. But they didn't attack us or destroy the cute sandcastle.

After the meal in our rescue accommodation, it has become quite chilly. So Krissi just mentioned that she's actually glad we don't have to sleep in the church in Horni Plana.

It's getting a bit dark now, and I hope I can read all of this again without any problems. Max and Krissi are trying to recalculate the route for tomorrow because we deviated from the route a bit. So tomorrow we either ride back the same way or find an alternative. We'll see tomorrow.

Since I can hardly see what I'm writing anymore and the others want to go to their rooms, we're leaving now, and I say goodbye for today.