Goodbye Saale, hello Elbe.



According to the German tourist sites the Elbe is the most popular cycling route in the country. I think in total it’s 1200km long, but I’m only doing about a third of it. Todays short part wasn’t super exciting, but I think it’ll get better.
The campground last night was an odd one. It was the most spartan place I’ve camped. Due to my bike issues I arrived late and no one was there to register with. So I just set up camp. This morning I left before anyone was there to pay, so it was a freebie. The tenting area didn’t have 2 inches of flat space so as I slept I kept slowly sliding down and down and down. So free is appropriate.
Tonight’s campground is tent only and part of a canoeing club. More to the point, I think it’s a side hustle of the owner of the club.
I’ve mentioned that campgrounds here are generally very clean and well taken care of. I haven’t mentioned that they commonly have shelters, kitchens, laundry facilities and other things like that. It’s a bit of a different concept in camping altogether. You pay per person and by what you have to sleep in. A camper van or RV is different from someone with a tent (which could be a cyclist or a driver).
Two families were having a small gathering at the club and were bbqing near my tent. So they invited me over and I had dinner with them. They spoke a little English but mostly talked amongst themselves in German. It was still quite nice.
Todays ride was very uneventful and not super exciting. The end of the Saale radweg seems to exist only to connect it to the Elbe radweg and not because there is much to see. I didn’t take many pictures, but here’s what I got.



Curiously, yesterday on the really interesting part of Saale I saw so many cycle tourists again. Whereas 2 days ago in the remote part and today in the tail end part I saw very few. Where are they all cycling that I don’t know about?
Today is day 12 and I have cycled just over 1500km (127km per day average). This is more than half the total estimated distance in a few days less than half the time. So I am changing my route a little and planning on spending at least a day in each of Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.
The change in route is that from Prague I will ride to Passau, Germany and pickup the Danube route there. When I originally decided I was going to cycle in Europe the Danube route was originally my plan. So I am glad to be able to do a little bit more of it.
Going to be another day or two of rain it looks like, then will get sunny and warm. It’s not so bad when you know there is an end to it.
Passau is where we boarded our Danube river cruise. I think you will enjoy your time along the Danube.
Me too
Another great day Chaddo. I think when you see a lot of cyclists and then a few, it should tell you there are lots of places to go and things to do. Happy you will be taking time to be a tourist. You’ll enjoy it as there are lots of things to do. Budapest has your favorite paprika. Be sure to look for it. .
That sword will do. Perhaps it can go above the bed, sword-of-Damocles-style.
Great pics!
If I had to spend an extra day anywhere along your route, it would definitely be Prague. I’ve never been, but have heard it’s more beautiful than Paris.
It is the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen based on my visit in the mid nineties
Hey Chadinski, Loving the blog! How is that new tent working for you (dry inside?) Loved the photo of the vending machine a few days back – with your reflection and cans of Vienna sausages (did they make it into your food bag? I also love (a lot of love for you here) the little snippets you share about the people you meet. (These will help when I get older and mix up your adventures with my life – almost can’t wait for some of those neurons to start failing). Wind at your back.. rain just a mist on your face .. have a good ride amigo. – don
The tent is old and leaked one night but not again. I must have done something wrong. The bag. May and pillow are new and I love them all. I have not had a can of those sausages but that’s a very good idea. Hoping for just a little mist