Elbe Bike Trip 2 with a nasty end
Jun 30th, 2016, 09:42 AM
#41
The last few days
After going down the underground tunnel system in Melnik first thing we saddled up and checked out going down the cliff and Mrs B's brakes finally failed and we had to replace the second cable. We are now on the Elbradweg that doesn't go to Prague and the path is mainly terrible, very slow going and lots of old chemical works with nothing to eat or drink all day (why is the bar always on the other side).
Finally we get to Brandys and check into the Sport Hotel (1950s socialist hotel rather than the 4 start commercial hotel in the centre of town that I had pre-booked). Yet another wonderful castle down by the river but closed by 5pm when we cycled up, so had to make do with cocktails by the river and then a real Italian restaurant run by real Italians. Walking back to our hotel at 8pm we are the only people about.
Next day we set off south on the Elbradweg (Euro Velo 7) and joined up with Euro Velo 4 (which goes all the way to Normandy, stopping at Prague on the way. The ride is uneventful apart from 1) I brushed against a plant like I had done for the last 400km 2) EV 4 actually runs for part of the way down the top of an enclosed train line, the entrance to this was very hard (took us 45 minutes of digging around a bus station) to find but boy was it fun. We also picked up the Prague “Green Way” and our only puncture of the trip. The GWay links up with many of the expensive new flats still being built and with all the consultants offices on the east side of Prague, very swish.
Central Prague was horrible, Mrs B decided that she would not ride on the road, all bike signage stops as you cross the river and my maps basically gave out, we hacked our way through a few parks and then onto to a small village to the north of the airport. Nice little pension almost on the airport fence, but our latest arrival of the trip. If you have to go through Prague on a bike get better maps.
Stepping into the shower I suddenly realised why my leg had been hurting a bit for the last 15 km. Massive boils and a bright red leg! Somewhere, out there, in a field an unknown plant had triggered a major allergic reaction. Dosing myself up with pain killers and beer I did my best to sleep.
Next morning we cycled into the airport, packed our bikes and went home to Leeds.
Update, I can almost walk now, just not properly.
Overview based on this trip; Czech beer is good. Czech coffee is far better than German coffee, why I don't know, the worst coffee of the entire trip was Starbucks at Prague airport, even little old ladies in Pensions know how to make better coffee than there. Czech food is better than it is often described as.
All the rooms we found were fine, though some of the fire escapes were frankly laughable (ie step out of a 2 storey window into the arms of the firechief was one icon). Other cyclists are great, we chatted to lots of people on bikes, maybe for 30 seconds or maybe 30 minutes.
Tourist Info in Germany and Czech were good and helpful, though I give the award to the Czech ones as they must have been doing it on half the pay.
Language, note a problem, everyone tried to make things work and that is all you need.
After going down the underground tunnel system in Melnik first thing we saddled up and checked out going down the cliff and Mrs B's brakes finally failed and we had to replace the second cable. We are now on the Elbradweg that doesn't go to Prague and the path is mainly terrible, very slow going and lots of old chemical works with nothing to eat or drink all day (why is the bar always on the other side).
Finally we get to Brandys and check into the Sport Hotel (1950s socialist hotel rather than the 4 start commercial hotel in the centre of town that I had pre-booked). Yet another wonderful castle down by the river but closed by 5pm when we cycled up, so had to make do with cocktails by the river and then a real Italian restaurant run by real Italians. Walking back to our hotel at 8pm we are the only people about.
Next day we set off south on the Elbradweg (Euro Velo 7) and joined up with Euro Velo 4 (which goes all the way to Normandy, stopping at Prague on the way. The ride is uneventful apart from 1) I brushed against a plant like I had done for the last 400km 2) EV 4 actually runs for part of the way down the top of an enclosed train line, the entrance to this was very hard (took us 45 minutes of digging around a bus station) to find but boy was it fun. We also picked up the Prague “Green Way” and our only puncture of the trip. The GWay links up with many of the expensive new flats still being built and with all the consultants offices on the east side of Prague, very swish.
Central Prague was horrible, Mrs B decided that she would not ride on the road, all bike signage stops as you cross the river and my maps basically gave out, we hacked our way through a few parks and then onto to a small village to the north of the airport. Nice little pension almost on the airport fence, but our latest arrival of the trip. If you have to go through Prague on a bike get better maps.
Stepping into the shower I suddenly realised why my leg had been hurting a bit for the last 15 km. Massive boils and a bright red leg! Somewhere, out there, in a field an unknown plant had triggered a major allergic reaction. Dosing myself up with pain killers and beer I did my best to sleep.
Next morning we cycled into the airport, packed our bikes and went home to Leeds.
Update, I can almost walk now, just not properly.
Overview based on this trip; Czech beer is good. Czech coffee is far better than German coffee, why I don't know, the worst coffee of the entire trip was Starbucks at Prague airport, even little old ladies in Pensions know how to make better coffee than there. Czech food is better than it is often described as.
All the rooms we found were fine, though some of the fire escapes were frankly laughable (ie step out of a 2 storey window into the arms of the firechief was one icon). Other cyclists are great, we chatted to lots of people on bikes, maybe for 30 seconds or maybe 30 minutes.
Tourist Info in Germany and Czech were good and helpful, though I give the award to the Czech ones as they must have been doing it on half the pay.
Language, note a problem, everyone tried to make things work and that is all you need.
Jun 30th, 2016, 10:43 AM
#43
Update, I can almost walk now, just not properly.>>
that sounds like a bad attack of British understatement, bilbo. Any idea what the culprit was?
We enjoyed Czech beer and food, though three sorts of carbohydrate on a plate did get a bit much after a while. I honestly don't remember the coffee.
Would you go back?
that sounds like a bad attack of British understatement, bilbo. Any idea what the culprit was?
We enjoyed Czech beer and food, though three sorts of carbohydrate on a plate did get a bit much after a while. I honestly don't remember the coffee.
Would you go back?
Jun 30th, 2016, 11:24 PM
#45
Ann, yes lovely countryside and people, Mrs B and I discussed taking a month out and trying to do a fair bit of Euro Velo 4, but suspect knees would give out half way. One thing I discovered over many year of cycling is that you get to meet people on a bike rather than just staff.
Both, yes it could have been far worse, still I've never seen a Dr's Receptionist run out of her office screaming before when I showed her why I needed an appointment
No idea, I get hayfever so maybe more susceptable to some attacks. I also went to school in Blandford, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blandford_fly and the affect looks a bit like that but different pain etc. My first port of call in Otley was to our local Chemist who is Czech and she had no idea what had caused it, so I have no idea.
Both, yes it could have been far worse, still I've never seen a Dr's Receptionist run out of her office screaming before when I showed her why I needed an appointment
No idea, I get hayfever so maybe more susceptable to some attacks. I also went to school in Blandford, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blandford_fly and the affect looks a bit like that but different pain etc. My first port of call in Otley was to our local Chemist who is Czech and she had no idea what had caused it, so I have no idea.
Jul 1st, 2016, 12:45 AM
#46
Both, yes it could have been far worse, still I've never seen a Dr's Receptionist run out of her office screaming before when I showed her why I needed an appointment>>
We'll have to take your word for that, Bilbo.
Have you thought about electric bikes? they might save the knees.
We'll have to take your word for that, Bilbo.
Have you thought about electric bikes? they might save the knees.
Aug 16th, 2016, 03:41 AM
#47
Just an update; I am now walking normally, the swellings have all gone down leaving only red patches on the skin. We are pretty sure this was giant hogweed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_mantegazzianum while it is in the UK, it is a banned plant so I've never seen one here. It looks like it is also around in Germany, Eastern France, Switzerland and Czech.
Aug 16th, 2016, 12:23 PM
#50
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...eod/1000016088
Not my favorite of her books, but your post brought it to mind.
Not my favorite of her books, but your post brought it to mind.
Aug 16th, 2016, 02:15 PM
#51
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Wow, I had no idea about Giant Hogweed, Bilbo. I thought all of the poisonous plants were restricted to the States; Poison Ivy and Poison Oak, as examples.
At least the Hogweed only attacked your leg. My best friend in collage made love to his girlfriend in a patch of poison ivy, with truly spectacular results.
At least the Hogweed only attacked your leg. My best friend in collage made love to his girlfriend in a patch of poison ivy, with truly spectacular results.
Aug 16th, 2016, 03:18 PM
#52
On walking trips in the UK countryside I seemed to need to learn anew on succeeding trips what nettles looked like, realizing too late as I backed into the shrubbery well off the paths. I think now I know. But at least the effect is only hours, rather than months.
Aug 17th, 2016, 09:07 AM
#53
MmeP - if you learn what a dock leaf looks like, you can rub it on the site of the nettle sting and [allegedly] reduce the pain.
Conveniently docks tend to grow in the same places as nettles so you should usually be in luck.
Conveniently docks tend to grow in the same places as nettles so you should usually be in luck.
Aug 17th, 2016, 09:21 AM
#54
Thanks, annhig, an interesting & educational botanic lesson, indeed. Can you see me now - bottom exposed trying to find the spots to apply the dock leaves? I think the practical solution is to recall the appearance those benign-looking nettles in my moment of need.
