The day dawned bright and sunny. We were up at 6 to pack the tent and have breakfast at 7. Phoned Matthew at home before breakfast, he is on holiday for a few days. It was great to talk to him after six weeks. Left camp about 7.30 and headed for the hills. The day started with a short (less than 1 k) trip through town and then a 15km hill climbing 500m. It was through open forest on a narrow sealed road and was followed by gradual but fast descent over 20ks through villages and crop fields.
Lunch was at 35ks, which we reached at 9.10am!! After lunch -at brunch time- we relaxed and waited on all the others to arrive. About 11am we headed off in two groups with a leader each. It was 24kms to the hotel from lunch, and we went with Olivier. There were a good number of potholes on the roads into Budapest - it has been quite noticeable since leaving Western Europe that the condition of the roads is much poorer.
We were on and off the bike path, through the traffic, and over the Danube into Pest. Budapest is comprised of Buda on one side of the Danube, and Pest on the other. We are staying in the Mecure Hotel, as tomorrow is a rest day. Once showered and organized, tent hung up to dry, we headed for the laundromat. It was a half hour walk, and once we dropped off the laundry we found others from our tour having a beer at a cafe around the corner so joined them. Well deserved with the temperature still at 35 degrees!
The laundromat charge was 2500HUFs, or $22NZ. Some things are not cheap! We usually do washing at camps or in the hotel and string a line across the room but decided the clothes needed a proper clean this time. We have reached the halfway stage of the trip. Almost 2000ks on the clock, and at the half way stage in days. On Saturday we leave the Danube. We returned to the hotel for a rest before meeting a group of others in the lobby at 7. Walked to a restaurant about 500m away for dinner. The menu was in both Hungarian and English, and the waiter was very helpful as he spoke English also. We had a selection of Hungarian foods, pork loin, steaks, goulash, and they were all very delicious. Payment could be made in Hungarian florins or Euros. It was a farewell dinner for Charles and Leslie, as they finish their ride now and return to South Africa.
Returned to the hotel at 10pm and ready for bed. We are all very early nighters due to being up so early in the mornings. It was still very warm outside. Travels today were only 56ks in 2 hours 52, ave. 19.4.
Lunch was at 35ks, which we reached at 9.10am!! After lunch -at brunch time- we relaxed and waited on all the others to arrive. About 11am we headed off in two groups with a leader each. It was 24kms to the hotel from lunch, and we went with Olivier. There were a good number of potholes on the roads into Budapest - it has been quite noticeable since leaving Western Europe that the condition of the roads is much poorer.
We were on and off the bike path, through the traffic, and over the Danube into Pest. Budapest is comprised of Buda on one side of the Danube, and Pest on the other. We are staying in the Mecure Hotel, as tomorrow is a rest day. Once showered and organized, tent hung up to dry, we headed for the laundromat. It was a half hour walk, and once we dropped off the laundry we found others from our tour having a beer at a cafe around the corner so joined them. Well deserved with the temperature still at 35 degrees!
The laundromat charge was 2500HUFs, or $22NZ. Some things are not cheap! We usually do washing at camps or in the hotel and string a line across the room but decided the clothes needed a proper clean this time. We have reached the halfway stage of the trip. Almost 2000ks on the clock, and at the half way stage in days. On Saturday we leave the Danube. We returned to the hotel for a rest before meeting a group of others in the lobby at 7. Walked to a restaurant about 500m away for dinner. The menu was in both Hungarian and English, and the waiter was very helpful as he spoke English also. We had a selection of Hungarian foods, pork loin, steaks, goulash, and they were all very delicious. Payment could be made in Hungarian florins or Euros. It was a farewell dinner for Charles and Leslie, as they finish their ride now and return to South Africa.
Returned to the hotel at 10pm and ready for bed. We are all very early nighters due to being up so early in the mornings. It was still very warm outside. Travels today were only 56ks in 2 hours 52, ave. 19.4.
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