Biking to Germany!

Today
we
bike
with
flowers....





and
  lovely
    landscapes...

solar
powered
homes...

many
solar
powered
homes...

and
friendly
faces....

as
we
bike
into
Germany.

We
leave
the
Hotel
Ruze...

My goodness,
I could do
a
whole
blog...

about

these

wonderful

VBT 

inns!

This

one

is a

restored

monastery...

I
could
blog
about....

the
unusual
showers...

the
luxurious
beds....

the
confusing
toilets!

But
grab
those
sunglasses....

We
have
flowers
waiting...

and
a
train...

But
first,
let's look
at
the
map...












Our train
will
take us
through
the
Sumatra
National
Park...

by
lovely
Lake
Lipno....

then
we
will
bike...

to
the
German
border.

Barbara
is
ready...


















So
are
the
local
bikers...

Load
the
bikes
on the
train...

and
let's
go!

It's
a
lovely
train
ride...

and
a good time
to
review
the
route.

Looking
good!

We
arrive
at
Nova Pec...

where
our
bikes
await.

Slather
on
the
sunscreen,,,

Prep

the

bikes...

And

off

we

go!

It's
amazing
to
realize...

this
very path
we
bike
so blithely...

was
the
Iron
Curtain.

Hundreds
of
people
shot....

trying
to cross
to
freedom
here.
















It
looks
so
different
now....

with
the
joyful
people...

and
the
flowers.

We
bike
through
the
woods....

past
the
meadows...

and,
yes,
flowers.

We
bike
past miles
of
Czech
land...

cross
a
little
stream...

and
arrive
safely
in
Germany!


What
a
beautiful
country!

A
few
more
biking
miles...

and
a
secret
path....

lead
us
to
our
Biergarten
lunch!

VBT
takes
the
place
over!

We
enjoy
a
bit
of
goulash...

and
the music
of a
local
band...














then
we're
back
on
bikes...

back
with
the
German
flowers...

when...

what's
this?!

They're
taking
pictures
of
me!!!

That's
not
fair!

Ah,
but
it's an
easy
ride
now...

a
gravel
road,
yes...


but
all
downhill!

through
the
woods
we
go....

and
the
fields...

and
finally
I
catch up
with...

TJ!

He's
eating...

his
favorite
snack!


He opts
to
take
the van
to hotel...

He
and
Ralph...

have a
girlfriend
to
Skype!

I,
however.
opt
to
bike!

With
my
two
stalwart
companions...













we
tackle
major
hills...



for
spectacular
views!

We
battle
manly
trucks...

mechanical
woes....

ferocious
heat....

and
more
hills....

than
Jiri
can
count!

But
we
finally
make it
to
the top!

Then
it's
a
quick
downhill...













to
the
Danube
River...

Cross
the
bridge....

to
Passau...

to
relax...

and
celebrate...

the
beauty...




of
biking
Germany!