To - Siofok
Distance - 113km
Time - 6 hours
Total - 3348km
Before I start, I need to say, what a great name Szombat is for Saturday! It's the best name for a day I have heard so far.
Back on the road with clean clothes and rested legs. After a little delay in waiting for Janice's taxi, I got away on the bike. The weather has been dry but cloudy and cool - not bad cycling weather I suppose but we should be getting better weather than this here! The evening picked up with a bit of nice sunshine.
My routes for the next couple of weeks do not follow any recognised cycle paths. I am plotting my own directions which are most likely following busier roads. I managed to get out of Budapest by using cycle paths alongside roads and I said goodbye to the Danube. The journey was I eventful and I didn't see much of outstanding beauty. In terms of business the road was a bit like cycling along the A6 from Lancaster to Kendal. The roads were long and fairly straight with long gradual hills and long gradual decents. There were some sections of cycle path alongside the road that I hadn't expected so that was a bonus. Whilst it was a fairly long ride it seemed to pass quickly because there are not many windy or off road sections that can slow you down.
As I was approaching Siofok I was passed by some cyclists with competition numbers on their shirts. I guessed that there was a sportive cycle event taking place and the most likely route was going to be around the lake, a total of 200km. Of course I tried to keep up with them and nearly caught some on the uphill sections but they went away once we got back on the flat or downhill.
I think I have told you that Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe. I got my first sight of it just before I got to the Hotel Diana, where I was staying. The lake was a beautiful turquoise colour despite the sky being overcast. The hotel is about 1km outside the town of Siofok so I checked in. It's a 3 star hotel and was very nice accommodation with a small pool and I even have something in common with the Pope!
I checked the Internet to see how the British Lions did in their first match against the Barbarians at Hong Kong. They thrashed them, so I am happy for a good start.
A quick shower and then I went for a walk into Siofok. I knew the Balaton is a place where Hungarians go for their holidays and that Siofok was a lively resort. The cycle event was still in progress and their were still riders finishing. I got the impression that there were lots of cyclists in the bars, recovering from the ride but there weren't too many other tourists and some of the shops and bars were still closed. However, it does have the appearance of a typical seaside resort. There are lots of ice cream stalls, hot dog stalls and beach shops. I found more nightclubs here than Janice and I did in Budapest but I don't want a club tonight!
There was a nice little park as well and a self defence class was taking place in the early evening sunshine. I walked back along the promenade and will probably eat at the hotel restaurant and have an early night. Back in the old routine.
My cycling tomorrow should be more scenic because I can hug the lake shore for the probably 40km or more. I'll have to check my iPad map. I think tomorrow I will have to discuss a dilemma I have about a couple of famous Hungarians that could be disputed!
Photo 1, Last view of the Danube and I found where old London buses go to die!
Photo 2, Lake Balaton. What a nice blue colour, just think what it would look like if it was sunny.
Photo 3, Hotel Diana, nice little pool but a bit too cool for a swim today.
Photo 4, Start of a road of bars and nightclubs at Siofok.
Photo 5, Finish line for the Round Balaton Sportive. I thought I had done a long ride today till I saw this!
Photo 6, Old boat at the small port at Siofok.
Photo 7, Self Defence class in the park. There was also a newly wedded couple taking photos in the background.
Photo 8, View along the Promenade - not quite Grange!
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