Aviation morning ritual
In the morning, I had a little bit of bonus entertainment because the airport had an event and there were some helicopters parked actually in front of the entrance to the hotel. So after exiting, I walked around a little bit just to see them up close, I had to satisfy my enthusiasm for helicopters. Sometimes the best part of choosing an airport hotel isn’t the convenience, it’s these unexpected aviation treats that start your day with a smile.
Time’s cruel mathematics
It’s already been five days since I started this, and it feels like I’m just at the beginning. It’s almost 1,000 kilometers that I did (except 80 with the train), but it doesn’t feel like that at all. Time works differently on the road. Each day feels endless while the overall journey feels like it’s barely begun.
When legs meet reality
Today was much harder than I thought. The climbs did get to me, man. I can feel my legs a little bit, but the hardest part wasn’t the 2,100 meters of ascent, it was actually sitting on the bicycle. I had to make frequent stops throughout today just to stretch a bit and get off that saddle. Sometimes it’s not the big muscles that break you down; it’s the small discomforts that become unbearable over hours.
Czech déjà vu
Today was quite chill, and the roads were very quiet. From time to time, it felt like I was going in circles, everything looked so similar. But since I saw that I was approaching my goal, I guess I wasn’t. The hills of Czech Republic are very nice to look at from different angles, even when they all start blending together in your exhausted mind.
The magic moments
The highlight of the day happened in some random village, passing by some little girl who started making faces and showing me her tongue. It was such a small, funny thing, but these are the moments that stick with you. Pure joy, no language needed, just human connection across a fence.
Medieval time travel
Again, there were some beautiful historical châteaux and remains of walls scattered throughout the landscape. It felt like cycling through a medieval fantasy book, going through all these places with so much historical significance. The whole region was clearly very active in the Middle Ages – you can feel that history in every stone wall and ancient tower.
The cruel finale
The hardest climbs were saved for the end, which was really tough because they were extremely steep, especially the last one in the city. I thought I couldn’t make it on the bicycle and would actually have to get down and walk. But I managed somehow, I’m not sure how, and got to the hotel for some nice food and recovery.
Small victories
Even today, wrong navigation was somehow a blessing. I was supposed to do 198km but did 194, and those four kilometers less felt like a gift from the cycling gods. I’ve never been happy for knowing I need to do four kilometers less! Tomorrow brings 1,100 meters of climbing (which will probably turn into 1,500), and it’s again below 200 kilometers, which is nice.
Triple border day
Tomorrow, I’m actually crossing two borders and will travel through three countries. I’ll start in Czech Republic, then go to Austria, and later exit Austria to enter Hungary, where I’ll stop for the day. Day 6, almost approaching the end of the first part and reaching my hometown on day 7.
Day 5: Complete. The body is learning what it’s capable of, one painful kilometer at a time.
Every medieval village, every steep climb, every small interaction brings us closer to supporting children through SOS Children’s Villages Croatia. The journey continues! donate.wheres-marin.com
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