The weather was fine in the morning, just some cooler as the days before. After leaving Königstein the cycle path under crossed the railway, so the nice view to the Elbe disappeared. The next village was Kurort Rathen with the famous sandstone pillars called Bastei. Actually they are more impressive if you look from the top down as from The Valley upwards. Only one of the arches of the artificial bridge is visible from the river side. Then further in the next bend already approaching Pirna , the cycle path changes to the Elbe bank again. Some canoeists were moving through the water with similar speed as cyclists.
In Pirna I took the old stone Stadtbrücke to change to the east bank, that has more attractions then the left bank in this part.
First there were some small Elbe villages with an agricultural note, then Palace Pillnitz with a stairway to the Elbe.
Next are the water works for Dresden, where Elbe water is filtered and prepared as drinking water.
In Blasewitz I crossed the Elbe via the Blue Wonder Bridge, to have a better view to the Elbeschlösschen, three imposant mansions on the high bank with vineyards underneath one of them. Finally I reached the center of Dresden.
In order to leave Terezin one has to cross the fortress buildings. It was a military town also before the use as Ghetto and concentration camp.
Between the green of a Golf Ressort I reached the Elbe again and crossed to Litomerice, then following the right bank. It is interesting what fruits could be harvested below the railway. I saw hops, raisins, apples, elder berries, plums and much more.
I also crossed towns with nice names, but uninteresting buildings like Usti nad Labem.
In Decin a big palace is overlooking the valley and I made a short loop through the city. There were some interesting parts, but not inviting for a stay.
After some kilometers I passed the border to Germany. Only cyclists and pedestrians can pass here.
During the last part the weather changed to ‘there could be a thunderstorm’, but I had luck. Only after pitching my tent opposite to the Lilienstein some drops came down.
In Königstein I looked around and learned that a lot of restaurants, that existed originally, closed down. Also a lot of buildings are not in use anymore, maybe due to high water risks of the Elbe.
95 km following the rivers Moldau (Vltava) and Elbe (Labe)
In the night someone destroyed the fence of the camping and tied to steal two e-bikes, but was not successful. He managed to tear the bicycles through the opening in the fence, but 10 meter further they had been dropped. Probably due to the weight (both were chained together) or the thieve was disturbed. What to learn from this lesson: At the last mile before the camping, look if someone is following you an buy an e- bike that does not look expensive. And what about an alarm, if somebody caries the bike away.
So now I was starting today’s route. A comfortable cycle path along the Vltava. My bicycle did not shift well and I was not able to select the lowest gear, so I made a technical stop. Nothing seemed to be broken, but I oiled the shift cable and readjusted the length. I now could use the lowest but not the highest gear, but that’s fine. For some kilometers the cycle route left the bank of the river and there was a small climb. The gear worked a expected.
On the route there were some Zameks (castles or palaces) and also much more cyclists as on the part south of Prague. Not because it is Saturday – they were tourists.
Czechia is one of the famous beer countries an what do you need for beer? Hops! On my way I saw a lot of Hops fields, that are currently harvested. The streets are full of the green fruit that dropped of during transportation and also some cyclists decorated their vehicles with hops.
Sometimes the cycle route has to variants. Pay attention: two variants had staircases to access a bridge over the river. I was happy to have opted for the small ferry in the first case and not to cycle through Melnick in the second case.
The confluence between Vltava and Lane was not visible , due to roadworks on the cycle path.
Near Libechov there is a Carbon Power Plant in operation, but it did not look like well maintained. Near the cycle path was a camper so the first impression, but at a second look everything inside the vehicle was green for camouflage and behind the camper was a heavy ordnance apparently to stop airplanes.
Near Racine the route left the river and passed a huge stadium called Lane Arena with a canal of at least 1 km long. For swimming or other water sports. It seems to be created in the communist area.
At they end of the day I arrived in Terezin, the Nazi concentration camp Theresienstadt. The monument was closed, but the whole citadel town was in use as Ghetto. After I pitched my tent on the Autokemp, I made a walk through the town.
Station for the imprisoned of Theresienstadt
It is very quite an nearly no public live. The only restaurant is on an hotel, others marked on maps are closed down.
It seems all social life is on the Autokemp: There is beer, pizza and people come here to dance.
