Author Archives: Paul Spanjaart

Day 3 – along the Moldau to Ceske Budovice

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87 km moving between the river Moldau an the roads over the hills.
The first part until the dam that closes the lake there was a nice cycle path. Short after the start in Frymburk a bronze statue of a maiden was placed on a rock in the lake.
After the dam the river Moldau is wild and fast streaming through rocks. There was a cycle path, but rather dangerous, due to the bad condition. Several times I had to cross a railroad that started just below the dam.

Near Vyssi Brod the cycle route left the river and I had some nice views over the higher landscape.

In Rozmberk the cycle route crossed the river to climb the right bank. I decided for another route via the main road just near the river. There was only light traffic. In the river there was a lot of canoes and rafting boats.

Ceske Krumlov

At lunchtime I made a stop in Ceske Krumlov. It seems to be a well known town in China, because most tourists originate from there. From the bank of the Moldau I could see a large queue of tourists waiting for admission to the castle.
The next part was uphill again and return to the Moldau near the cloister of Zlata Koruna. Then again escape from the Moldau, probably due to a lack of roads near the river. Just near Ceske Budivice (Budweiser Beer) the cycle path met the river again. I found a very small campsite on a sport site. After pitching the tent I made a short trip to the center. On the square a small orchestra was performing.

Day 2 – to Frymburk

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84 km over a dismantled railway an a steep climb.

The first part was along the Danube with a lot of cyclists and because it was rather flat the first 25 km were fast.

At Obernzell I left the Danube and started a climb on a previous railway track and now the cycling route Donauwald. For a railroad it was rather steep. Near Wildenranna the cyclepath changed to other small roads. Some after Wegscheid I crossed the border to Austria without any sign. In Aigen im Mühlkreis a very energy consuming road had to be climbed. After the highest point the road had no big surprises. After arriving at the Moldau river that is a big lake here I followed a small road along the bank and took the ferry to Frymburk.

Frymburk on the left bank of the Lipno reservoir

Frymburk on the left bank of the Lipno reservoir

Day 1 – Zangberg – Passau

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124 km mainly cycle tracks along the river Inn.

The first part until Neuötting I took the shortest route through the Isen valley. There are bridleways and small roads. One critical point was near Marktl with a very steep part without forewarning. I did not dismount in time an had a first meeting with the surface. The only damage was an USB cable for the phone that was torn in two parts. Cause was that I did not release my shoes from the pedal clip before I started the climbing.

After 50 km I passed Braunau with a camping, but it was to early to stop already. Next campings are near Bad Füssing, but they seem not to take cyclists. As I passed the area there was not any sign showing the entrance. On this part of the route I drifted away from the direct Inn cycle path, because a part was closed for maintenance. But also the small agricultural roads are nice. There are small villages with huge churches and some farms have old wooden buildings.

I returned to the Inn cycle path as the small roads ended up in roads with higher car traffic.

In the area between Würding and Neuhaus am Inn the cycle path is on a high dike, but after Neuhaus until the city boundary of Passau the route is through the woods and rocks. Some steep parts are here as well, at least to steep for the combination trekking bike with camping equipment and a rolling surface of round pebbles.

In Passau the cycle path still follows the Inn, but at the left site are expensive apartment houses instead of trees. The cycle path leads directly into the center.

From there it is a short way to the tent camping near the river Ilz, the smallest river of the three that confluence in Passau. The biggest is the Inn and the longest is the Danube.