Location GREEN

Ok people I have now covered 3251 miles and am now in location green. For everyone that is not Speare (who thinks he is Ethan Hunt) or a fan of mission impossible. That means I am in Prague, I know I said that I was not going to come here but I will talk about that later. More important things need to be discussed, such as there being a lack in donations in the past week. I reckon I will be at the 35oo mile mark by the time I get to Berlin next week and if I have not had another donation by then, I am coming back. You guys have got the easy job, you are not going to get repetitive strain injury typing in your card details. It is not like your are losing layers of skin off your hands because you have been gripping the handlebars for about 6 hours a day for the past 10 weeks. OK so that was probably one of those empty threats that teachers dish out some times, what can I say old habits.

Sunday 20th May (Rest day Linz)

So as I said in the last post there was not much to say bout my time in Linz, apart from one thing that happened in the evening. But for the full story I have to say what happened in the morning first to fully appreciate it. When I was just sitting down in the park reading my book this large Hungarian guy came up to me and asked if I had any spare cash. His story seemed genuine, he had came to Linz for the weekend before starting a new job and he had ran out of cash and the ATM`s did not like his card. Being Sunday every thing was closed so he was a little stuck. So I gave him a couple of Euro`s and told him of the hostel I was in and that the lady was very helpful and he could probably sort something out with her since he had no cash for somewhere to stay. I did not think much of it for the rest of the day until I got back to my hostel in the evening after finishing on the internet. Who do I find that I am sharing a room with but this Hungarian dude. He was so grateful for all my help in the morning and said I was really kind and that he wanted to repay me. Thing is though he is a masseuse so he offered me a massage. I said that it is ok and he was quite persistent (just like Speare in a night club). So I said ok but just the shoulders. I am not homophobic, I just do not really like people touching me if I do not know them (Unless they are beautiful women). In his professional opinion my muscles are very hard and need a lot of work. Apparently my legs need a good hours work each at least. So my question is to all you ladies that are reading this. What do you say? I should get back in the beginning of July nicely tanned and toned. All I ask is that your in a nice 2 piece swim wear and there is a few suds floating about and we cast all inhibitions into the wind.
Any way this is the dude, I can not remember him name and I am a little distressed as why he had to put his hand on my knee.
Monday 21st May (Day 55)

Main purpose of the day was to cross the boarder into the Czech Republic. Really nice ride, sunny all the way. Found a nice place for lunch,
It was very gradual uphill all the way to the boarder.
After I stopped in the first town to sort out some local currency I follow the cycle route along a cool river,
all the way to lake Vodni Nadrz where the camp site was.
A very nice camp site as well with a beach volley ball court next to lake and a bar where the beer was CZK 20 for a pint (50p)

Tuesday 22nd May (Day 56)

I really enjoy cycling on Czech roads. If you get the right ones they have very little traffic and nice views of farmland.

Whilst I was cycling NW along the northern shore of the lake I could;d see a huge storm over the lake coming in my direction. It was quite weird because I was in extreme sunshine. Luckerly I turned NE before it caught up with me, but it was such a hot humid day more clouds started to develop and I could see this in front of me.
It was not long until the heavens opened and I was in the middle of one of the biggest storms I have seen. The hail was the size of pepper corns and one of them hit me on the base of my left thumb nail, and if anyone has done at first aid course and know all about AVPU. You know that that is the place to squeeze. It was after that , that I sought shelter. I was under some trees and that lightning was pretty close. It was a little scary and exhilarating at the same time. 2 cars even stopped for shelter where I was so that is haw heavy it was. Any way when it started to thin out I got ion the bike and crossed to the other side of the storm and stopped to watch it for a bit.
Could not find a camp site at the end of the day so I ended up on a wild camp in the middle of the woods which was really nice apart from the insects.
Wednesday 23nd May (Day57)

Since it was a wild camp I got up really early so as not to get caught. I was on the bike before 6am and the woods were lovely at that time
The roads were really nice and I was making good progress. Because of the early start I thought I might as well head to Prague.

But there is a very important lesson, do not count on any thing but the unexpected to put a spanner in the works, or to be more precise, the bracket for your rear pannier breaking. As in one of the main supporting legs that takes all the weight.
But for some reason I was not worried or angry, I was laughing with a smile on my face. All I needed to do was a little weight redistribution in the other 3 packs and get out the duct tape and a spare tent peg to stablise the rack
I still got into Prague for a reasonably time in the afternoon.

Prague (Rest Wed pm/ Thur/ Fri)

At first I thought I was going to avoid Prague since I came here 2 years ago and thought that it would not be as good. But then I thought that that is a stupid idea because if I treated all places like that I would never go to the same place again. It is like saying I will never go to Jelly Jazz again because the last time I went it was great. I am so glad that I came here again. Ok it is not as good as last time, but it made me realise that the mind is a wonderful thing and the slightest smell sound or sight will trigger some memories that otherwise would of been lost. All I have done is to walk around the city and come across sights that I have seen before but this time they have triggered a memory from last time. So I have been randomly walking around remonising with a smile on my face and every now and then laughing to my self. Probably looks quite strange to others but I have really enjoyed it. Any way this is a picture for the Cornwall boys
Does it stir any memories, such as that random drunk outside causing trouble that made us a little worried as to about the neighborhood we were in. And do you also remember this club where we owned the top dance floor and ruled like a bunch of drunken English louts. When Martin was annoyed at me because I used him by pushing him into the bunch of German guys in the middle of smell like teen spirit.
Any way I am loving Prague. I went to one of the bars on the water front with my room mate last night, and it was amazing because there was a dance off between one of the podium dancers (NOT A STRIP CLUB, I REPEAT THIS WAS NOT A STRIP CLUB) that works there and this chap why turned up at Mr T. He was so short but incredibly cool. It was so funny to watch, one of the podium dancers just gave up and walked away. She obviously felt deflated that no blokes were looking at her but at a mini Mr T instead. The other one was loving the challenge and it went on for a good 20 minutes, very entertaining.

Any way here are some shots of Prague.

The castle at night from across the river

Charles bridge at night
Me on Charles bridge sending out some good vibes to you guys back there.

I love the way that the new contemporary buildings reflect the more traditional bohemian architecture.There is this amazing vegetation curry house next door to my hostel where you can get this set menu for the equivalent of just over 2 pound, happiest man alive because it is the first time I have found a mango lassie for a long time.


Any way the plan now as I said at the start is to get to Berlin by Wed/Thur. That is all I have to say so I will see you later.

Cheers