To - Nagykanizsa
Distance - 108km
Time - 6.5 hours
Total - 3456km
Last night I just went to the Hotel restaurant and was joined by 18 German fans of Bayern Munich. I can't believe it, Bayern were in another Cup Final, against Stuttgart this time. I managed the first half while I had my Venison in Wild Sauce! Aptly named as I was furious I had to wait for 20 minutes for it to be served! It was actually nice and served with the local favourite...bread dumplings. I went back to my room to watch the second half and Bayern almost lost a 3-0 lead to finish with an exciting 3-2 win.
It rained heavily during the night but was nice and sunny when I woke and had my nice big breakfast. I got away at 8.45am and enjoyed a leisurely start. The ride was like a match of two halves. The first 55km I stayed on small flat roads by the shore (or close to it) of Lake Balaton and was thoroughly pleasant. I am not too quick on the uptake but as I was riding I saw quite a lot of people jogging or walking in the opposite direction. I was confused because they looked pretty fit individuals but they were going slow and some were hobbling as if they were in pain. It eventually dawned on me that not only had there been round lake bike rides, there was also a running event!! These poor blighters were running 200km around the lake and had been at it for around 24 hours. Respect!
Just before I left the shores of Balaton I spotted a little cycle shop that was open on a Sunday. I couldn't resist the opportunity to check my tyre pressures whilst I was still in civilisation. That was a mistake. The owner got his son out to do it and he cranked up a compressor! I would have preferred him to lend me a hand pump with a gauge but I went along with it. He checked the back tyre, it was close to the correct pressure and then he did he front. It could have done with an extra 'bar' of pressure but the compressor didn't have enough power to put any air in! I thought 'never mind' it's not too far off. But what did take the wind out of me was when he asked for 300 forints for failing to put air in my tyres! 'Three Hundred' seemed to be the only English he knew! I made all sorts of gasping and tut tutting noises but I did pay it, only because he had turned his compressor on and it was less than £1 so it wasn't worth digging in for a big argument.
The second half of the route was dull and a little wet. Light rain became set in for about 3 hours and I was on long undulating roads with no shelter. I did however, notice that my back tyre was trying to get off the wheel rim! It must never have been seated right when it was put n in Budapest. Anyway I stopped deflated the tyre, fiddled with it and then pumped it up again. Like most DIY type things I do, it didn't do the job. It started to do exactly the same thing again but it got me to Nagykanizsa where I ad another go using a tyre lever to push the tyre down onto the rim. It looks better now but I'm not convinced that it won't need to be done again.
So, I am here in that famous town of Nagykanizsa! I know you will all be familiar with it....not! The hotel s rather basic but the owner does speak English. The buildings around are all old style communist era five storey flats. The town centre itself will never be a tourist destination but it has some nice features that you will see in the photos.
I nipped to a Lidl supermarket and picked a few things for an evening meal. I fancied a sausage roll and I studiously checked the pastries looking for the ones with the roll of meat in the middle because its a complete waste of time trying to read any labels in Hungarian. I also bought a tub if Somloi Galuska. I had seen this on a menu in Budapest and instead of an English interpretation the menu said 'just try it'. Well I didn't try it on that occasion but I thought I would today. Later when I ate the food I was surprised to find that my sausage roll was a jam tart! and the Somloi Galuska was actually quite a nice rum flavoured sponge pudding with cream (I bet you thought I was going to tell you it was a savoury sausage meal).
I did mention yesterday a bit of a dilemma about two arguably famous Hungarians that I haven't mentioned so far. The first is Johnny Weissmuller, who was born before he First World War in a part of Hungary that is now in Romania. His parents were both of German nationality and he was taken to USA when he was a baby. Who could forget Johnny Weissmuller wrestling a plastic crocodile in Tarzan, he was my favourite Tarzan for sure. The second person is Tony Curtis, he was born in USA but his parents were both Hungarian and he only spoke Hungarian till he was 5 or 6 years old. I'm still not sure if I could include them n my list or not. I need an adjudicator.
I am planning my next moves. Tomorrow should take me out of Hungary, into Croatia and stay overnight in Ptuj, Slovenia. Should be interesting. I am taking a bit of a chance with my route because the road mapping directions I get tell me that I need to do a big loop to he north because the only direct route involves a motorway. However, I have spotted a way that I might be able to get across the motorway on my bike where a car couldn't! I suspect it involves a farmers track, which will no doubt be flooded or so muddy that I won't be able to use it. If I get this route wrong I will have to back track for over 10km and use he northern loop which is also much longer than my desired route. To make things worse the little track I am looking for is on the Hungary/Croatia border. Croatia is outside the EU until later this year so I could be shot for trying to escape out of Europe!!
Photo 1, Balaton is also a wafer biscuit! So, have a Balaton by Balaton.
Photo 2, Busy M7 motorway on a Sunday afternoon.
Photo 3, Hotel Touring.
Photo 4, Apparently the on,y monument in Hungary to commemorate the Treaty of Trianon which split Hungary to a third of its previous size after the First World War.
Photo 5, Nice building and church in Nagykanizsa.
Photo 6, Main square, nice fountain and statues.
No comments:
Post a Comment