01.-08.08.2023
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After the many weeks and months of planning and preparation, it went on 01. August 2023 finally off: Start of our six-month adventure of a bike tour to and in Oman.
Before that, however, it was said to organize our absence in such a way that the house and garden are well cared for, beloved potted plants can survive and ongoing obligations are met. Much more important and above all more emotional, however, was the farewell to family and friends. An atmospheric garden party despite poor weather conditions offered the right setting for it. The next morning, after a mandatory farewell from our hometown of Cologne, brother/brother-in-law Jojo and friend Wolfgang sent us on the trip at the main station with best wishes, since the actual start was only planned in Vienna, where we had already cycled to years ago. And there, too, was a small, cheerful farewell event with good old Viennese friends.
Finally, on 03rd of August, in wet and cold weather, we boarded our beloved and probably a little too heavily loaded off-rohler trekking bikes with the destination Brastislava, capital of Slovakia. With the, thanks to unwanted detours, almost 90 km long route on the first day, we undoubtedly overstressed our untrained legs a little. The dinner already organized by Astrid in advance as well as the view, enjoyed in Bratislava’s gourmet restaurant UFO, were appropriate and almost inspiring compensation.
The Danube cycle path, which is frequented by many cyclists, offers only a few impressive sceneries, which is why we had planned a detour to Györ, the Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and Tata after crossing the border to Hungary. Unfortunately, however, cold and rain also reduced these impressions. However, a muddy off-road adventure on a section designated as an official cycle path caused an unplanned ‘highlight’. Equally unplanned and unintentional, Herbert’s fall into the street ditch, fortunately leniently except for a scratched nose.
We have taken sustainable impressions from the visits of Esztergom and Szentendre and the landscape around the Danube knee as well as from the strikingly considerate behavior of the Hungarian motorists towards us as tour cyclists and the always friendly encounters with the people here.
Now, after five days of cycling and a good 400 km, we have arrived in Budapest, where we were finally able to set up our tent in the cozy Bike-Camp and now want to rest a little and explore the city. After the rain finally suspended yesterday and even the sun is shining today, we are well tuned to tackle our onward journey.