Wednesday 22nd October 2014 - Back on the road today. Looked at forecast and there was a weather warning about Gonzalo. It was really windy through the night too. Woke up to windows banging.
Cold, windy and raining this morning. Packed up bags. My bike was outside in the terrace, not under cover, so had to scoop out the water that had collected inside of them overnight, before packing.
Back into hostel for breakfast. Bread dipped in egg and fried, with cheese on top and pancakes with cream, chocolate and jam. Hopefully keep the legs turning for a good bit this morning.
Man in the bar with his dog. It came over to me while I was waiting on my food coming. It was really soft and fluffy. It then lay down and feel asleep over my feet.
Brought bike through, down steps, through bar, up steps. Quite a task. Outside and it is sooo cold. Wind is really chilly.
Stopped for more cash on way out of town, then back over the UFO bridge.
Minor detour just after as they look like they were re-building one of the bridges across the river.
Bit of a cycle path, then onto the road for ages. Quiet road though, only me and the rain on it. The Danube was canalised during the Stalin years, so the road was along the dam edge. Flat and slightly sheltered from the wind, I managed 50km in under 2 hours, including coming out of the city. Pretty good, it also kept me warm.
Cold wet feet though.
Crossed the dam onto an island part and there is an outdoor sculpture art museum. Looked good, took few photos, but no time to go in.
Also they use the dammed water for a whitewater kayak course. Looked great, also explains why Slovakia is good during the Olympics etc, the force of the water down the course looked really strong.
On along the edge of the dam. Seagulls and ducks flying away when they eventually realise I'm approaching them.
Stop just before I cross to the other side. Really really windy here and cold. Lots of waves and spray coming off the water too.
Down the other side and along the bank. The smooth tarmac then turned into gravel paths. These were so slow and seemed to suck the wheels in like quicksand. Really monotonous. Nothing to look at either, for miles. The path was on top of a bank, trees on one side, flat farmland on the other. For ages.
Was also keeping an eye on the massive black clouds that seemed to be following me, hoping they wouldn't burst. Kept me motivated to pedal on through the slushy gravel.
This scene repeated over and over for the next couple of hours. Really slow, annoying and boring. Kept switching sides of the track to see if one was better than the other. Neither were.
Every so often there is also a metal barrier across the track. They have a dip in the middle for cyclist to go over. Some have a ramp over the round barrier, some don't. Some also swing when you roll your front wheel over them. Never know which type you'll find at each one, it also means stop starting in the gravel, arrrgghhh.
Slooooooooow. Especially after my really fast morning section.
First person I also pass is a man and his dog out running at 98km.
Also, there are hardly any signs. The ones that are there also seem to be broken, sprayed over, or on the ground, which is a pity. It could have been someone that was tipped over the edge of sanity by the gravel paths, taking their frustration out perhaps?
Into the town of Komarno in the dark. Looked like nice buildings. Still can't feel my feet, or hands now. Really cold.
Found the campsite which is owned by the adjacent hotel. Panorama Hotel, just near the centre. €6.80 for the night.
Round into the site. Windy, cold, rainy, cold, damp, cold, hands don't work. Makes putting the tent up a bit of a challenge.
No food left, only one corny cereal bar (love these) and some peanuts. Not going back into town either.
Hot water in a water bottle and zipped up into tent to try and warm up and sleep.
Brrrr
Day 54 - 22.10.14
Bratislava to Komárno, Slovakia
11.30am to 6.30pm
4h 53min cycling
107.4km
3200 calories
380 metres asc
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