Apatin, Novi Sad, Pancevo

Sorry to leave great little hotel near Apatin, on the bank of Danube. Room, with river view, lovely meal and a couple of beers about £30 the lot. Better day weather wise and 60 odd miles to Novi Sad. Novi Sad to Pancevo - a bit of a nightmare, rain - rain - rain! Never mind, tomorrow's another day. Problem is: forecast, not a lot better. For Maple - place names: Bogojevo (brings back memories of 'The Biblins') and I like 'Titel'.

Taksony, Kecskemet, Baja, and Apatin

Three pretty miserable days - because the weather has been so bad: really quite cool and I've had more rain over the last 3 days than I had over the last 2 trips put together. The forecast keeps threatening better weather - I'm looking forward!

Place names

I've been through some places with extraordinary names: a couple today - Suksod, and would you believe it 'God'. But the one that takes the biscuit, so far, was a place in Poland called 'Wroblin Glog' - who thought up that one?

Budapest to Taksony

After picking up my bike and fiddling around with it in the morning, spent afternoon in the 'Terror Museum'. The actual building was used firstly by collaborators with the Nazis in World War 2 and subsequently by the Soviets in the Cold War. I can hardly think of a more depressing place. If you ever want to go somewhere that makes you feel grateful for the country we live in and the age we live in, go there. Only made about 25 miles, but now well south of Budapest. 1450 miles to date.

Hlohovec to Nove Zamky, Nove Zamky to Vac, and Vac to Budapest

Hooray! Wind has changes direction and really much easier day to Nove Zamky. Extraordinary Hotel in Nove Zamky, the biggest room I think I have ever slept in, all a bit tired but much nicer than some of the modern hotels which are devoid of any character - and the staff were all so friendly. It's funny but every country I travel through, I warm to it as I spend more time there. Brilliant days cycling from Nove Zamky to Vac (Hungary). Meeting the Danube again on a bicycle was amazing; never thought I would do it again, but 4 years later, here I am. Vac is a lovely place situated on the east side of the river. Another great little hotel about €23 bed and breakfast. Gentle run in to Budapest and booked into Fortuna boat hostel (again €23 b & b). Took bike to good little bike shop nearby to have worn back tyre changed and one or two other running repairs done, so here for a couple of nights. Budapest is great place, and I've found out that I can travel on the trams for free - now that I'm 65! Lazlo, the bike shop man tells me that the chain and sprockets need changing, glad I found out before major problem in the middle of Turkey. Anyway I'm here for an extra day.

Vsetin to Trencin, and Trencin to Hlohovec

Left Vsetin in pouring rain, wind against me and pretty much all uphill. I didn't realise how much I had climbed over the last 2 or 3 days until I rounded a bend and pretty much the next 15 miles I was coasting downhill, and as I was coasting downhill, the sun came out and lo and behold the world suddenly looks a lot more beautiful! Walked up to castle in Trencin - quite breathtaking views from top tower. Had a bit of lie-in, Sunday morning, and enjoyed bacon and potatoe omelette for breakfast, and then had one of the hardest days cycling. Pretty flat road, sunny day, but about a force 5 or 6 wind right in my face. Only made about 40 odd miles, but absolutely knackered by the time I reached hotel in Hlohovec.

Raciborz to Fulnek, and Fulnek to Vsetin

Soon crossed the border, the only problem being the border was into the Czech Republic, which has its own currency, not Slovakia, which I thought I was going into and which is in the Euro. So I had to cycle quite a few miles to bigger town which had cash machine. Weather starting to get a lot warmer, and what with the wind being against me and it being very hilly terrain, I was very pleased to find brilliant cheap pension in Fulnek. Sandra, the receptionist told me how bad things are in Czech Republic. People are lucky to get a job at £2 per hour, and while it is cheaper here, it's not that much cheaper. Left Fulnek thinking it would be another difficult day, and whilst the wind was against me, it was cloudy - a bit cooler and not nearly so hilly. The Pension I'm staying in tonight has its own micro brewery - needless to say, had to sample marvellous beer. And so to bed!

Wroclaw to Opole and Opole to Racibor

Collected bike from excellent bike shop, but a couple of miles or so from hotel and I'm sitting in the bar next door to hotel and xxxxx me I realise I have left my helmet in bike shop. Well, Sweetheart has made a bit of a song and dance about the flipping helmet, so I have to cycle back to bike shop, which doesn't open until 10.00 and is the opposite way to where I want to go. Anyway retrieved helmet and found pretty good way out of city. Made about 65 miles and arrived at nice little town Opole. Very good inexpensive hotel, and very friendly young people who were very interested in my trip. Left Opole and made just over 50 miles to Racibor. Just arrived very posh new hotel, built by 2 brothers who had worked in New York and saved enough money to build the Hotel. Weather suddenly gone warm and sunny, problem is the wind now coming from the south east - slows me down and quite tiring. Ah well, all going pretty well so far.

Wroclaw

Well, I had to spend a day longer in Wroclaw than I had intended, but managed to get bicycle up and running and also have a wander round lovely city - another place well worth a visit. On the road again tomorrow. For the record I have clocked 1,026 miles so far. It is 4 weeks and a day since I set off from Malvern.

Zielona Gora to Glogow and Glogow to Wroclaw

As I was leaving Zielona Gora, it started to rain, and the rain got heavier and heavier. After making around 40 miles I arrived in Glogow and being absolutely drenched booked into first Hotel, which has good restaurant, so treated myself to birthday steak. Managed to get dried out and set off for the city of Wroclaw. Had made nearly 70 miles when suddenly 'Bang' and I'm lying on the road. One of the carrier racks for the front panniers must have come adrift, and got into the spokes of the front wheel. The rack itself is all bent and twisted, one spoke has snapped and the front mudguard is bent. I managed to straighten it all out enough to limp into Wroclaw city centre. Having a day off anyway today (Sunday). I'll find bike shop to fix tomorrow. Wroclaw itself is a lovely city, in contrast to many of the towns and villages which very run down. I enjoyed a couple of beers with 2 German guys and a polish guy, in bar next door to hotel. Cheered me up.

Berlin and into Poland

Thankfuly, managed to find way out of Berlin a lot more easily than finding my way in. Made 50 odd miles to Youth Hostel in Bad Sarrow, only to be told they had no spare beds. Receptionist directed me to farm over the road which did rooms. Well, the 'rooms' turned out to be an old caravan which I guess is used by farm workers. Anyway too knackered to sort anything else so walked round to hotel nearby which was closed. Ended up going to Netto (like Lidl) and bought rolls and beer for grub. Next day lovely 30 odd mile ride round lakes and wooded area to brilliant Youth Hostel in Bremsdorf. Had a long chat and beer with fellow cyclist Oliver, who comes from Bavaria. He is on is way to Istambul via Ukraine. Left Bremsdorf and made nearly 60 miles over Polish border to lovely town Zielona Gora. Just going out to sample Polish beer!

Berlin 2nd - 7th May

Great time in Berlin with Sweetheart. What a great city. Quite unlike any other German city, or European city for that matter, and very good little Hotel (Hutten palast). Good value, and great bars and restaurants nearby. Thoroughly recommended. We have found out that it's not possible to load photos on to 'Blog' with my iPod - it keeps crashing - so I will email some back to Sue who will endeavour to load them. On the road again tomorrow. I hope to be in Poland within 2 -3 days. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again to all who have made a donation through JustGiving.

Haldensleben to Berlin (3 days)

Good cycle in the morning through little villages which all seem to be either 3 or 4 km apart. Then soon after lunch stop had to join main road without cycle path. Made about 10 miles or so and heavy traffic really got to me so took a turning off and soon got lost! Asked a young guy the way to Brandenberg, he says why go to Brandenberg, stay around here. He then directed me to great hotel right by lake in Kirchmoser. 56 miles. Left Kirchmoser for Potsdam, I couldn't understand why everywhere was so quiet, then it suddenly dawned on me - 'it's May Day!' Guy behind the desk in Youth Hostel in Potsdam, I reckon a Leftover from the Stasi. Mien Gott! if I make a mistake here I'll be sent to the Gulag. 45 miles. Bit of a nightmare from Potsdam to Hotel in Berlin. But worth every minute, because Sweetheart is there to greet me. Really looking forward to a rest and sharing some happy times together. I've clocked 768 miles so far. Probably about a quarter of the way.