Day 16 & 17. Dolni Brezany CZ to Berlin DE. 593km

After a great time and a sad farewell to Tony and Mirka, I jumped on the bike and headed for Berlin.   Mirka took the photo of me leaving, thank you.   It was an uneventful, but enjoyable ride.

I decided to visit the "Church of Bones" at Kutna Hora again.   We had been there in 2006 and it was worth the extra 60 km to make another visit.   It was just as good as I remembered.   I didn't know that it took some 4,000 (dead) people to make.

The internet on motorcycling in Europe recommended riding Jicin to Turnov in CZ.   They say it is the Czech Republic's paradise.   I found it nice as well and also from there to the Polish border, in the hills.   I found even more back roads after not following Zumo, the GPS, correctly.   It meant that I got to the hotel in Boleslawiec later than I had hoped.  It was worth it.

The small roads through little villages make you realise that all is well here too.   Just as in the city, people have their mobile phones glued to their ears, and drive nice new cars.   There is no shortage of satellite dishes either.   

I saw a car parked on the side of a back road and several people wandering in the grass.   I was curious what they were collecting, until I saw the front wheel of their car was missing.   Yes, they were scouring the grass for their front wheel!   I didn’t think that they needed my help, so just waved and rode on.

Polish drivers seem to be similar to when we drove there with the campers in 2006.   There is still this thing that they have to overtake and cut in front of you without leaving much room.   However, I still enjoyed the riding in Poland, and the people I spoke to were friendly.   The new freeway was a treat to ride: beautiful flat concrete and later bitumen.   I find riding on the bitumen a little easier on the eyes, as it is not so glary.   I should have put on the sunnies.

I deflated the Airhawk seat cushion a bit, as I was getting “bot-rot” after about 2 hours.   This seemed to help.

Travelling on the freeways at speeds of up to the legal 120kph means you get there quick.   The traffic was friendly and calm, which makes for very safe riding.   The bike likes it too, I think.   We just purr along at 5,000 rpm.   

Some photos of the roads will make you wish you were here, too.

LN2N2012

PS.  Thanks for all your comments.   I think I have answered them now.  Lou

Day 12-15. Prague Sightseeing with Tony and Mirka

Tony and Mirka are excellent hosts.   They are studying English and it has been easy for me to communicate with them, even if it gets a little difficult at times and they grab the translation book.   T&M like me to correct them if they make a mistake.   I am now worried that I may be in trouble with J, because I may be teaching them the wrong words.   Things like “Good-aye, mate”, and “Cheers mate”, instead of “Good morning” and “na zdravi”.   But no matter, we laugh a lot.   The beer is good.

For the last four days Tony and I have been sightseeing Prague.   It is a wonderful city, and I can see why they say it is one of the nicest cities in the world.   The city stretches out on both sides of the Tabor River and is joined by many fine stone bridges.   The favourite is the King Charles Bridge, which has now become a foot bridge and a tourist haven, with lots of trinket and art sellers.   In the city it is easy to wonder about, and around ever corner is a new surprise of buildings and sculptures.

Unfortunately, Mirka has to work during the day, however, on Tuesday night we had a pleasant brisk walk to the Dolni Brezany village square and shopping centre.   The days are very long here, so we get a lot done

On Wednesday, Tony and I visited the Palace Square Cathedral and the Gardens.   The gardens have been reconstructed, and that day was the official opening by the President.   It sure looked a treat, and a credit to the original designer, architect, Plecnik (pronounced Pletchnik) in about 1922. The reconstruction was based on the original design and is a credit to the “reconstructors”.

On Thursday we went to the St Peter and Paul Cathedral.   The churches here are just as fascinating as any others that Lynn and I have seen on our travels.

Honza, Jana and Alishka visited this evening for dinner.   It was nice to meet him again.   I had already met Jana and Alishka earlier on the Tuesday before Tony and I went sightseeing.   They are excited about their plans to visit Australia next year.   As I am writing some of this (on Thursday evening), Tony is watching the football and he is very happy because the Czech team is winning, he says.
The score is 0 : 0.  !!!   (Can’t argue with that.)  Later they lost by 1 point, 0:1.

Mirka is making an apple strudel in my honour, and we found an Iced Coffee in the supermarket.   Tomorrow will be a special day.

On Friday we visited the Zamek Dobris (Chateau Dobris).   Another fine restoration and best of all it had a motorcycle museum.   Not big, but great to see the fellow Jawa’s that I owned many years ago.

It is now the end of my fourth day (5 sleeps) with Tony and Mirka and I have now settled into a routine of the good life, even a swim twice a day, and the food is great too.   However, I need to head north, or I may not have enough time for the detours on the way to Northcape to see the sights.

I have studied the maps and planned the next part of my trip.   I will be leaving T&M on Saturday morning, ride to Kutna Hora to visit the “church of bones” (Ossuary), and then travel north to ride the area know as the “Czech Paradise”, between the towns of Jicin and Turnov.   Then it is into Poland and Berlin the next day.

Many thanks to Tony and Mirka for the making my Prague visit just great, and they have a nice house, too.

Just a few photos until I get them all sorted and labelled.

LN2N2012