Dresden Germany to Decin Czech Republic

May 31 2023

This morning we were in no hurray to get on the road as we only had 63 kms to ride and it was all down the pathway.  So after a nice leisurely breakfast we got on our bikes and rolled out of Dresden at 8:30 am.  The sun was up bright and the day was already getting quite warm.  The path way was quite busy with bike commuters heading into the city.  As we left Dresden we had a great view of the three castles which were built along the river escarpment.  

The pathway was so pretty in the dappled green with sun shinning though the trees and reflecting off the river.  We passed a river boat paddle boat which does tours up and down the river.  It had a lot of people on board who were also enjoying the sun. 

We stopped in a little village which was by the pathway and walked up the main street to have a coffee.  I found a fresh food market and purchased some fresh apricots.  They were so sweet and the perfect morning snack.  

At the 40 kms mark we came to a resort along the path way which was selling food and drinks.  It was a great spot to eat lunch.  I had a slurpy which was the perfect complement to my lunch on a hot sunny day.

The river had gone from a wide river in a wide flat plain to a narrow river in a deeply incised valley with steep sides.  The top few hundred feet of the valley sides look to be a cliff forming sandstone.  This has lead to some very interesting places to build castles and other structures.  It also means that the pathway, the road and the railroad all compete for the same real estate.  So quite often the path is right on the river with a retaining wall next to the path, the rail road on top of the wall and then the road right beside the tracks. 

Marlene had received a recommendation to go to this organic brewery in this little town across the river so we made a detour across the river to find this little brewery.  It was called Schmilkaer Braurhaus.  It was up this tiny little and very steep alley.  It must have been a popular place as the tiny alley was lined with little guest houses and cafes.  Sure enough there was a water mill powered brewey with a beer garden under the trees at the end of the alley.  After having made the detour, and climbed the hill we were having a beer.  It was a wonderful treat on a hot sunny day (25C).

We rolled down the hill and there was a ferry waiting to take us across the river.  Perfect timing.   

It was only about 15 kms into Decin form there. The Garmin route took us directly to the hotel which is an interesting place right on the pathway.  I wound up with something like 68 kms today.  

This puts us in the Czech Republic where we will spend the next 9 days.  

Terry