On July 15th, 1996, I started my first bicycle journey lasting several days. On my "Trekking Fox - Hot Shot", I set out to visit a friend in Aš - the westernmost town in the Czech Republic. I hoped to visit the Italian Dolomites in the future, so I regarded this trip as a test of myself and my bike.
On the first day, I visited Prachovské skály - a beautiful rock area in Bohemian Paradise, one of the nicest parts of my country. I also stopped at Syřenov Castle. For the night, I stayed with relatives in the village of Křížany, situated close to the famous Ještěd television tower.
The next day, I travelled almost entirely on paved roads because I wanted to make better progress. I saw Panská skála - Virgin Rock near the village of Prácheň and then climbed up to the ridge of the Krušné Hory mountains, where I slept near the Fláje reservoir.
I was very surprised by how flat the ridge was. Cycling conditions there were excellent. You can also find a long-distance cycling route here, which was featured in the cycling magazine Cykloturistika. The next day, I stopped at the summit of the highest mountain in the range and also the highest point of my journey - Klínovec (1,244 m). Through the beautiful countryside near Boží Dar, I continued to Horní Blatná. It was my third night, and I slept in a field nearby. The following day, I reached Aš and stayed there for a day.
The journey home took me three days. Through Cheb and the famous spa town of Mariánské Lázně, I reached the village of Zdárek. I slept beside a forest. On the second-to-last day, I stopped at Křivoklát Castle, where I watched a knights' battle.
In the evening, I arrived in the capital of the Czech Republic - one of the most beautiful cities in the world - Prague. I took a rest at Staroměstské náměstí - Old Town Square - and at the Žižka Monument at Vítkov. Because none of my friends were at home, I had to sleep outside the city in a field. The next day, I rode the final 120 km and arrived home in the afternoon. So I finished my seven-day trip and was already looking forward to another one sometime in the future :)....