9 June 2016 (sunny and hot, late thunderstorm) 84km

As I write this particular blog, it is 4.55pm and we have just set up camp in Trencin, about 10kms from the Czech border. Last night we posted photographs of a beautiful castle in Bojnice, but tonight we have a waterfront view of Trencin castle on the hill, across the river, from where we have pitched.  We no doubt, will be snapping away this afternoon and into the evening, as the light changes constantly, at present we are having a lull in between thunderstorms, the first rain we have experienced in Slovakia.

The day began at 6.30am after finally getting to sleep, with the revellers outside our camp calling it quits at 2am. I first strung a line as the sun was already showing signs of what it had in store for us today. The washing I’d done hadn’t dried, so this was a must, rather than cart wet gear around. Whilst Julia got the photos and blog off, we received a message from Georgina to contact her, which we did. The wifi at this small camp is excellent, so talking to Gigi was great. Breakfast out the way and we were on the road at the later time of 9.20am. We were already high on a mountaintop, but no, there were plenty more to come today and we wasted no time getting into them. 

Looks nice from a distance

Through Sutovce and Dizin and down to a grimy looking lake…..believe me, it has to be if Julia has no desire to swim in it. 

The surrounding countryside is beautiful, if not a trifle hilly!

Heading for Valaska Bela. Nice riding, very scenic, although the trees look like it’s Autumn rather than Summer. Before we reached our destination there were another few climbs to see off.

At Valaska Bela we bought supplies for lunch and then began a climb out of town. It was a climb that was to go up and up and combining that with looking out for trucks, it was very challenging.  

Nearly back down from the ski field - this view is 8 km downhill from it.

But all good things gotta come to an end and soon we were whizzing downhill. Part way down we spotted a shrine at the side of the road, with a little seat, just big enough for two. Not thinking that Mary  would mind two weary travellers stopping for a quick bite, especially after what she went through, we tucked into a lovely lunch. After the climbing we’d just done, we’d have enjoyed live tarantulas, but only on nice buns! As we ate, we heard loud groaning coming from a young cyclist going up in the opposite direction to us. Julia gave him a clap, which he totally ignored, whilst I felt like telling him he still had 6km uphill climb.  Before descending we had come out at one of the ski fields, shows how high we were.  Lunch over and still going downhill at a rapid rate, until the town of Ilava.  All day we’d been dodging trucks and to a lesser extent, cars. The drivers honestly have no regard for human life and the amount of times people scream past us only to have to dive sharply back in front of us, nearly hitting oncoming cars, us, or both.  

A church at Dobnicky

Powering along the main road and at Trencianslee Teplice decided to get some respite from twenty ton trucks and follow a track Ju had found alongside the river and railway line.  Initially it was fantastic, nice smooth cycle path and a great reprieve from the onslaught of traffic we’d endured for the previous 15km.  However, after about 3km, it went to gravel and then to bloody awful, but it did improve and brought us straight to the front gate of the current camp with the outstanding view. 

Initial view of Trencin, Slovakia

Julia has already tried the showers, which cost extra and only give you three minutes, so she’s not impressed. There is one shower apparently which only has a curtain, but costs nothing, so I’m looking at that later.

First views of Trencin Castle

The view from our tent - WOW!

I rejoin you avid readers at 10.01pm. We are now ensconsed in a cabin to the side of our tent. A two hour thunderstorm of mammoth proportions with huge claps of thunder and magnificent flashes of light, with torrential rain, saw us huddled in our tent, hoping it was not suddenly going to fall in on us. It didn’t and I have to say that at the time of typing this, the damage is minimal. However, Julia, after sloshing through ankle-deep water to the toilet block, made an executive decision and for a mere 5 euros more, we have the cozy cabin for one night. We had only just been saying how Slovakia hasn’t provided us with any rainfall. Now, in just a few hours, it leads the rainfall stakes. Got to be honest, don’t know how the tent did so well, it was chucking it down. As we didn’t have anything to eat, we made a dash on the bikes at 7.45pm, to a local supermarket, but they were closing as we got there, so it was a three km ride out to a big Kaufland, in, by now, light drizzle. Back in the warmth and dry of the cabin, we enjoyed a hearty feast.

The view from the cabin

Hopefully for us, tomorrow will dawn fine and sunny as we have to evacuate the cabin by 8am as they are fully booked and need to clean them. It would also be nice to have a gentle breeze overnight to dry the tent out ready to be packed up.

Thoughts on Slovakia. A country of dual faces. On one hand some amazing architecture worth an incredible amount, whilst on the other, they struggle to finish buildings and this makes areas look really unkempt. From the tourist attractions where everything is so well laid out and laid on, to the huge amount of tenement block housing throughout the townships which ranges from well kept, to downright derelict. The people are a strange blend. Not openly smiley, although once you get a conversation going they relax and can be extremely helpful. The women definitely are more open to converse, whereas the guys are very reluctant to exchange words. 

I would put the country about ten years behind western countries, but catching up fast. Yes, they have the cars and supermarkets, shopping centres etc, but the whole way of life is still coming to grips with western attitudes rather than an Eastern block ideal.