Last part: to the Saxon Switzerland and Dresden

Early in the morning I make a detour to Terezín, formerly Theresienstadt, which became known as a concentration camp. Today, a 'normal' village is surrounded by guardian walls again. But the idea that in 1944 the Nazis poured the ashes of 20,000 Jews into the river here is very distressing to me. 

With these thoughts, I sail down the Elbe and reach Děčín, where the river has carved through the sandstone mountains. Czech Republic says goodbye with its national colors, but there is no German greeting. I want to hike one more time. To do this, I take the ferry to Bad Schandau and go to the Ostrauer Mühle campsite. I am allowed to stay with my small tent while motorhomes without a reservation are already being turned away. Although I have almost 100km on the odometer today, I still ride up the Zollhausweg and climb up the Lehnhorn and the Schrammsteine for the sunset. That's when cooking gets late, but hunger needs to be satisfied. 

On the way to Dresden, I unfortunately have the dumb idea to pass by the Bastei. It is completely overcrowded here and there is little of the romance of the mountains to be felt. I only drive through Dresden briefly, because I have arranged to meet Steffi and Volker in Klipphausen. I already know the two from GDR times and I am happy to see them again. We spend a chill evening on the terrace and have a lot to talk about. 

After a good breakfast, I head towards the train station, but only the IC after 3pm still has a place for the bicycle. So there is still time for a visit to the Karl May Museum in Radebeul and a hearty meal with pork knuckle and sauerkraut. Finally, Robert accompanies me from Bochum Hbf home. Thus, my first time in the sabbatical year happily comes to an end.

Bicycle stages
30.07. Ljubljana     72 km
31.07. Luce             57 km
01.08. Ojstrica 15 u 10 Fuß 1500hm
02.08. Dravograd   77
03.08. Maribor        52
04.08. Graz               96
05.08. Mürz            112
06.08. Höllental        56
07.08. Wien 102 + 1000hm Törle
08.08. in Wien 32 + 10 km zu Fuß
09.08. Wien+Klosterneuburg 63
10.08. Melk               110
11.08. Linz                100
12.08. Rozmberk       75
13.08. Tyn                  113
14.08. Colin               107
15.08. Prag                  85
16.08. Litomerice      105
17.08. BadSchandau96+13+5 zuFuß
18.08. Dresden, Klipphs. 79
19.08. z. Hbf + n Hause  60
in 21 days      total         1677 km