nbjtours

Day 10

Visegrad, Hungary

87 miles 686ft climbed

The loud speakers crackled into life and some music began to play, then it was accompanied by a man singing a patriotic tune. Was this Mustapha Mond the controller from Brave New World or had we descended back into communist Russia.

We looked around checking our watches. We had just entered a small village, it was 8 o’clock , time for the National Anthem just to remind us we were in Slovakia and we must love our country. Nick is now keen to get Brian Rowe to get speakers installed in Hadlow Park so the residents can be woken and be ready for inspection every morning!

Starting at 7.30 to try to beat the heat that was forecast today saw our busiest launch on roads full of workers setting out for the day. After innumerable roundabouts to exit Dunajska Streda we finally were able to turn off to smaller roads where even they had cycle paths easing the ride.

The first part of our ride worked it’s way across the very flat fertile Slovakian plain north of the Danube. This was a good change from pounding by the Danube and saw us run through several small towns and villages, where we did enjoy the Slovak National Anthem as mentioned earlier.

Agriculture abounded with apples, vines, various grains and sunflowers all in evidence. Running occasionally next to irrigation canals and rivers we saw more wildlife than for some time with a couple of very rapid deer, a hare that bounded across the path in front of us , and Nick even saw his first ever Kingfisher.

The other great variation of the day was the type of surface we cycled on. We reckon the only thing we didn’t cycle on was wet concrete we had cycled on before.

We enjoyed or should we say endured. Tarmac, new, old, almost vanished ( see above) , gravel, pebbles (like cycling on Hastings beach), grass, mud, dirt, concrete (various varieties) and even different types of cobblestones. Suffice to say to protect our delicates nether regions there was much warning and standing on pedals!

Before we made it to our coffee stop next to the Danube after the longest leg of the day we came across the longest wooden bridge in Europe and managed to cycle across it.

With the temperature rising Nigel & Monica’s coffee stop was shorter than usual and we set off on the standard Danube levee in some ferocious heat.

Unannounced we came across this Roman fort which was occupied from the first to the fourth centuries in keeping the Germans at bay. I had a walk round but Nick & Chris thought I was bonkers to venture out in the heat, but it was an interesting little detour.

Not long after this we came across a reconstruction of a Roman watchtower, although the fact it had ceramic tiles and plastic four glazing suggested it was not an accurate rendition.

Continuing along the levee we sought out shade when ever we could and did drop down to hide in the shade of trees on dirt tracks as preference to gravel on the top. We even had a brief stop by the Danube to cool down.

We need not have feared as Nigel had found a nice shady spot for lunch just by our cycle track so we were able to enjoy a relatively cool break.

It was not far now to the bridge to cross the Danube and enter Hungary which we had seen for some miles on the opposite bank of the river.

The Maria Valeria bridge was built in 1896 was destroyed in the Second World War but not rebuilt until 2001! After crossing the bridge we came into Esztergom which is home to the largest basilica in whole Hungary and the centre of Catholicism in The country.

Having got here we thought we ought to pay it a visit and climbed the cobbled hill to have a look. It’s size certainly makes it impressive although it is presently undergoing extensive renovations both inside and outside so was not at its finest.

Leaving Esztergom we had decided the final climb of the day up to the castle at Visegrad was better served by doing it first thing in the morning when it is cooler and the legs less tired. This just left twenty odd miles to the campsite. Sadly the last ten running along a busy road with cars and vans whizzing by every few seconds.

We need not have feared as on arriving at the campsite as Nigel had some cool beers waiting and we were able to shower quickly before spag Bol completed the day.

More warm weather is forecast tomorrow so we aim to get up and away even Earlier to tackle to climb to Visegrad before going on to Budapest.