So today promised to be an easy and unexciting day. And it was. We rose a little later than usual, 8:00 or so, and went for breakfast before pushing off. Kenneth and I headed for a bike shop to check odds and ends, me mostly air pressure, and him to buy some "missing" equipment he lost on his rental while in Vienna (a lock and lamp). Unfortunately, even on a Saturday, the shop was closed!
Not a big deal, although my air pressure had not been checked since . . . Dijon. Remember Dijon? Well, that was many, many weeks ago! But one thing I do remember — the ride is always rougher after I add air! And my butt needs a rest! So the air can wait till Prague.
Because today was effectively a rest day. 32 miles and 1700 feet of climbing. Easy. And it was. Till the last hill! Whoever designed the entry into Táborshould be . . . well, educated. It wasn't the best way in, and not what I would have done, as the grade was not bikeable (imho!), although Kenneth climbed it, and I later learned Jerry did as well. I will admit to walking it but would have easily climbed into the city on a more approachable but longer route. And they exist!
But outside of that, the ride was pretty, if not "boring" in the sense that it is becoming a bit repetitive. There is only so much farmland, rolling terrain, and forest land you can ride through before it all blends together. But still, it is pretty and very relaxing.
About three miles outside of Jindrichuv Hradec, we turned off the busy road we had used to leave town and onto this nice, wide, quiet one.
A highlight, after 10 miles, was our stop at Červená Lhota Castle, which came up on me somewhat unexpectedly (I was in the lead), and I decided to stop. This was after running into a "herd" of horses, which should have been my clue I was approaching something. And it was something! Lots of tourists and other cyclists.
Horses! Which I passed deftly . . . with their help, of course.
I waited out front at the bridge to the main building and was soon joined by Happy and Jerry. It was crowded with tourists, which may explain how Kenneth passed without noticing us. So the three of us rested for a bit and toured the exterior and courtyard. But the interior did not seem open, only the gift shop, which may explain the large crowds outside. Upon leaving, we passed through a festival of sorts on the way through the parking lots and from there, into more rolling hills. Which is fine. They were long but not overly steep, with the maximum grade being 7% or 8%. I did not hesitate to gear down. This was a "rest" day after all.
We were also passing through more towns that were larger than what we had typically seen over the last several days. I'm not sure if this was due to the proximity of Tábor and Prague or just a more densely populated and easily settled part of the Czech Republic. Either way, we arrived in Tábor near 1:00 PM, making pretty decent time with no breaks but for the chateau. Tábor, from a distance, is quite the city, with its prominent tower floating above the plains.
Tábor in the distance with the Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tábor clearly in view.
But the climb into town was a real, if not impossible, challenge. This was in part because today wasn't supposed to have any ridiculous climbs. And the pedestrian path into town, which is what this really was, was just that! There are easier, albeit longer, ways into town, but apparently the Greenway folks think otherwise. But so do I! So after confirming with Kenneth on our hotel location (he had made the reservation), and because I did not want to climb something I would descend later, I pushed my bike up the steep incline. In retrospect, I wish I had just biked around it and used the longer road/route up, but it is what it is.
I was unclear as to where our hotel was, so stopped to text and confirm with Kenneth. But once stopped on a grade like this, there is no starting again, at least not for me!
The good news is we arrived in time for lunch, beer, and a walkabout town. Then dinner and some rest. The next two days will be reasonable, and then we have two days off in Prague. The trip is nearing its end!
The Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tábor as seen from a side street off the main square.
