Budapest, Hungary to Novi Sad, Serbia via Osijek, Croatia – 276 miles (1,626 total)

Well Budapest was incredible, a city I am already craving going back to. I really should have stayed one more day as the hostel was only 8 Euros and would’ve meant I could have gone on a caving trip under the city.

Interesting roof tiling in Budapest

I spent one day aimlessly wandering around drinking coffee and trying Hungary’s famous Paprika laden Beef Goulash, which is excellant by the way. The next day had a bit more of a plan and I visited the House of Terror, the main interrogation/torture facility from when the Communists were in power and now a museum to the affect both Nazi and Soviet rule had on the country. From the top floor of the museum to the basement you travel in a very slow moving lift whilst being shown an interview with someone involved in the executions here, as he describes the steps being kicked away from the gallows a loud knock hits the elevator floor which scared the life out of some tourists from Japan!

Vienna, Austria to Budapest, Hungary via Bratislava, Slovakia – 201 miles (1,350 miles total)

I’ve finally left Western Europe, crossing the line where the Iron Curtain once stood, and have really started to feel that I’ve cycled quite far from home.

After a couple of relaxing in days in Vienna, stuffing myself with Apple Strudle and Sachertorte, at the wonderful company of my friend Ronnie and his partner Chris’ flat, I set out on on the days ride to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.

Dillengen, Germany to Passau, Germany – 222 miles (948 miles total)

Herd of sheep outside Dillingen. Quite eerie, if you expand the picture you’ll see nearly all of them making eye contact.

Well I’ve just reached Passau, the end of the Danube in Germany, on my last leg from Dillingen. Nine days cycling with no rest days (only one 50km half day), all camping bar one night in a hostel and I must say I am weary! Whilst I am significantly fitter than I was when I left I’ve found that gradually, when cycling everyday, I still seem to build up fatigue. At the start of the 9 days I slept 7 hours a night, at the end I am up to around 12. I think I may be pushing too hard but it’s good to learn what I am capable of whilst still in the safe surroundings of western europe. Anyway on with a quick summary of riding this leg.

Strasbourg, France to Dillengen, Germany – 245 miles (726 miles total)

My pace is starting to pick up now and I’m well on my way down the Danube, it’s been an interesting week or so since I last posted on the ride from Luxembourg to Strasbourg. Firstly I spent a day off resting in Strasbourg and spent a couple of hours seeing the place, I don’t know if it’s because I had no real expectations of the place (mainly stopped there as it was a logical place on the route to the Danube) or because of the nature of cycling all the way their but I really enjoyed just walking about the town.

Strasbourg Cathedral