I finished a cycling trip along Eurovelo 7 cycling path from Passau to Berlin. Below I documented some impressions about the trip.
26.04.2017
Last day of my cycling tour. Time is running so fast, it was very exciting and being outside in the nature most of the time.
I spend my last night in an old castle in Bad Belzig. If you ever follow this route you should plan to stay here as well or at least try the great restaurant. I am so lucky as this is again a sunny day and most of the track leads through forests, along lakes and the river Havel.
When leaving the hotel I figured out that the track I stored was not following this original R1, so I tried to find it. In this situation I feel very German because I want to follow the “real” R1, not just a way to the city. This happened later again, while cycling through Potsdam. In Bad Belzig it took some time to find the signs and maybe some of them are missing as well, or I just didn’t see them. In addition there are a lot of One-way roads in this city, so even I would have a track stored for navigation following the real R1 it may depend which direction I am following.
Some people are very creative and I like if they are showing it in different ways. Sometimes it is just something you can see on the picture right hand-side. It is not just a sign about a cycling path (Europaradweg) and the direction to Potsdam or Berlin. It is a piece of art using an old bike.
Another thing, is a simple weather station. It is a stone hanging on a rope and a small board with the following explanations:
– if stone warm and dry : SUNNY
– if stone wet: RAIN
– if stone white: SNOW
– if stone shaking: STORM
– if stone down: EARTHQUAKE
– if stone missing: STOLEN
Things can be very simple and work. At this moment the stone was warm and dry. I can confirm that the weather was sunny at this moment.
Entering Berlin on the over 11km long avenue with the famous Victoria Column and the Brandenburg Gate was a highlight for me on this trip. Especially because it was the first time coming to Berlin the road was not blocked by any event.
25.04.2017
Last night I stayed in the city Torgau. I never heard about it before, but it has a beautiful environment of the local goverment to work: In a castle build in the year 1532.
On my way today there was a much more famous city called Wittenberg. It is called city of Luther or Rome of the Protestants as well. In this city Martin Luther started the reformation of the (Catholic) Church. There are several buildings to visit. As the weather was not good today again I preferred to continue and just took a picture with my bike at this famous place.
Until Wittenberg I had to follow the cycling path along the river Elbe. Now I had to continue while the Elbe river continues to the North West to finally reach Hamburg. I figured out that I now have to follow the R1 – the Euroroute No. 1. Later there was a board somewhere in the nowhere explaining that this road starts from France and continues to Russia over a distance of 3500km.
On the way I saw a special sign showing a chapel for cyclists. Somehow funny that it is necessary to have a place for preaching for special groups. On highways in Germany you may find similar, too. It is called highway church.
My destination for today is Bad Belzig with a very special accommodation in an old castle which oldest parts are founded in the year 997. Tomorrow I should already reach Berlin my destination this time.
24.04.2017
I started my day with washing my dirty clothes. I found a shop not to far away from my track. It was the first time for me to use this kind of self wash areas and I had no idea how long this may take – including drying of course. But I had enough time and the upcoming track is not very difficult: 112km but flat/descending. And during washing I could continue cutting the video files I recorded during my trip. Overall it took me 70min in total and I had clean and dry clothes again.
The weather today was great, a lot of blue sky. I could have made thousands of nice pictures from nature and scenary. Beside the route there where a lot of rapseed fields as well. The yellow colour of the plant made it a beatiful arrangement with the blue sky and the different greens everywhere.
Once again I am happy about to do this trip heading north. For this the sun is in my back most of the time. That gives much better views than looking into the sun. The video recordings are much better as well.
Since I am cycling on the eurovelo 7 in Germany I didn’t see any sign/board about this track. What a pitty not showing this as a part of the european cycling network and a part of the idea of connecting people in Europe. From the border to the Czech Republic I just needed to follow the Elberadweg, a cycling path along the river Elbe.
23.04.2017
A day for sightseeing in Dresden. If you ever saw some pictures of this totally destroyed city after the 2nd world war it is amazing how many of really old buildings are still there. 
One of it called “Zwinger” has a great exhibition of paintings, several over 500 years old. A lot of them showing some VIPs from ancient times. I mostly liked those showing places. It may be interesting to visit there and see how it changed – or not.
Another place got my attention and so I visited the museum of transportation. They should everything from bikes, automobile, train, aviation with good explanation boards. It was interesting to read an article about complains in 1910 around because of the more and more motorised traffic. Even it was limited to 15km/h per hours in the city – and most vehicles could not go faster – people protested about the overspeed and noices like in the articles in the picture.
22.04.2017
My last night in Czech Republic I spend in the nice “Resort Marina Labe” with view to a small Elbe river harbour. In the evening they offered beer for very low price (0,90 €) and the foot was cheap and good as well. If you ever think about doing this trip as well, this place is highly recommended.
Up to now I was very lucky and had only good places, even I didn’t spend much time to search and compare accommodations. I just searched for some 
close to the track and fitting to my daily distance I like to go.
As already yesterday there where several places for resting with information boards. I really like this places and hope there will be more everywhere on the road.
And again today I had some challenges with stairways on the cycling route. There was a ramp beside the stairs for bikes but it was definitely to small for someone on travel having his bike equipped with bags at the rear sides. In addition the ramp and stairs are metal. As it was raining before everything was wet and slippery. Again I was to lazy to remove my luggage but with some risc to get the moves done without hurting myself.
Last night it was raining and during the day there where some small rainfalls as well. A lot of snails used this circumstances for a “walk”. I guess it is not a good idea to cross the cycling path but they may not no. I tried to avoid them but at least once 
I didn’t succeed as I could here from a terrible noice crashing one of this beautiful houses.
The road to the German border was again very tiny, only for pedestrians and cyclists. There was no sign welcome you to Germany, only a pillar telling you that this is standing in Czech Republic. Driving from one province to another within Germany is more obviously than changing a country in Europe.
The last 20km of my track was very hard today. Heading to Dresden I mostly had the wind directly coming from the front. There where no forest, houses or whatever which could protect me. I somehow felt like the snails I met today – very slow. But at the end this doesn’t matter, I reached my destination.
23.04.2017
Yesterday I didn”t continue cycling and used the day for sightseeing in Prague instead. There are so many old buildings from several periods, really impressive. All buildings I saw are in a very good condition, the city seems to take a lot of attention for restauration.
My trip today is only 113km around and mostly flat. I will follow the rivers Moldau and later Elbe.
Today I saw for the first time on my tour an information board for the eurovelo 7 cycling path. But not only one, within a short distances they installed at least 5 of them. Would be nice to have this boards more often along the road with local hints, no need to have them concentrated.
At one point I was very surprised about the routing. I couldn’t believe my routing app when I came to a pipe bridge. My app told me to use the stairways – not easy with a loaded bike. Before the bridge I saw a turn right sign. So I thought my app is wrong and there is another road and no need to cross the river. It took me almost 30 minutes to figure out that I really have to carry my bike up to this stairways. When I had a more close look at the place I found another sign from the eurovelo organiser which confirmed the way. Unfortunately the sign was not at its original place. If you ever have to pass here, remove your luggage from the bike. I was to lazy but honestly it was a little dangerous as well. Especially while carrying the bike down again.
Along the rivers there are several lifting systems for the boats. There are not many boats on the river at this times but once I could observe the whole lifting process. It took a long time for changing the height of approximately 1m. Transportation by boat is not the fastest way, this additional time may not count really.
19.04.2017
What a day! I started from my nice hotel in the small village Zvíkovské Podhradí with perfect view to the river Vltava (German Moldau), no rain and partially blue sky.
But there was a very strong and cold wind against me. The temperature was just a little above zero so I knew this will be a hard day. And in addition when I did the first moves my body wanted to ask me: “today again?” But I had a target to reach Prague in the evening. And I will do.
Several times today my track touches the river Vltava. It is very impressive and mostly surrounded by rocks. Totally different to the Danube river. Here it may be difficult to have a cycling path beside the river.
Although the sun was shining it was freezing cold. I didn’t really prepare for this temperatures, I guess I need to buy some winter gloves and warm socks in Prague.
Until today it worked very well with the track for the eurovelo trip 7 I downloaded from bikemap.de. Following the road today I had a problem when I need to cross the river Vltava. When I came to that point I realised that there is no bridge and I need to take a boat. But there was no boat in service. Probably the season did not start yet. Now I had to find another way to the next bridge which was not too far away – approx 2 km along the river. Google maps offered me a walking path of around 8km, but this didn’t work and my preferred app OsmAnd want me to go 100km.
At the end I found a way of course – using OsmAnd without navigation.
Not far away from Prague the track lead me on a main road beside the river Vltava.
This road was very busy and would not be a preferred route for touring cyclists. After a while I saw a cycling path on the other side of the river. I am quit sure I should have been on that side.
18.04.2017
Again I started the day with a optimistic mood, even I got already some news from family and friends in Munich about the new weather conditions there: snow. But when I woke up the sun was shining through my window. So no need to wear the rain suits today. Ok, I need to change and dress it after approximately 10 min after I started.
As you can see from the picture here I stayed in a Pizza restaurant which has a pension as well. This is very practical so I didn’t need to leave again to find some food. And Italian food like Pizza always works fine for me.
I had the plan to do some sightseeing in Budweis before leaving. Today the overall distance will be only 84km around, so I should have some more time. But after cycling around on the main plaza, getting some money from ATM I just wanted to keep going.
After getting some food from the supermarket – yeah they are open again – I need to dress my rain suit. Oh it became a rain and snow suit. And Budweis seems to be the only city to see today. On the track I only passes small villages and lots of green areas like forests, lakes and rivers. Even through rain- and snowfalls I had some beautiful moments to enjoy the environment when the sun came out.
Today I mostly followed the cycling path number 7. I’m wondering if this path is named after the eurovelo 7 path or it is just by chance. Nevertheless along the cycling path I found several nice places to have a rest and to stay a little more dry for the moment.
Compared to yesterday I didn’t have to climb as much, only 1164m, more or less half. But my legs still felt the pain and I was lucky about the shorter distance today.
One of the biggest climb went through a forest in a straight way. As the grade changed regularly it was not possible to see the end. And same as the days before I didn’t check the altitude profile in advance. Each uphill part was another surprise.
But I already recogniced by watching around this area will not give a possibility to cycle on a flat track.
It may be difficult to see from the picture, but in the hail I met cycling was not possible. It hurts to much in your face when you cross the way of the small icy balls.
Another point I realised again, rain is not the worst thing. When the road gets wet and the front tyres starts throw the water from below into your face that’s not funny. Especially while driving downhill and you usually get more speed, it is better to slow down because of all the water targeting your face.
17.04.2017
Today it will be more challenging. 153 km to go and when leaving the hotel it is already raining. First thing to do before leaving: Dress the rain suit. I still need to continue the R1 Donauradweg for some while. Even it is raining I can see some people outside doing their morning sport, mostly running. And I forgot to mention before, today it is Easter Monday. I guess most people are still at home enjoying their free day.
When it is raining the colors of the trees and other plants are looking more intensive than on sunny days. And some people, like the cycling guy with his orange umbrella, bringing more color into the scenary as well.
As mentioned before the signs for the eurovelo path are very seldom, so I am still lucky to have the track stored on my phone. At one point I learned that I now have to follow the R28 instead continue on R1. R28 is the 35km long cycle path heading to the North (Gusental Cycling Path). I didn’t study the altitude profile before but now I did by experience. I need to climb up to 769m. This was a first challenge today and I could feel already the additional weight I have to carry. Later on I figured out this was just the beginning. I didn’t count all the ups and downs but I had the impression that I needto climb the rest of the day after the more or less flat path along the Danube River. 
When approaching the border to the Czech Republic I was exited to know how it may look like and what will be the signs for the eurovelo path.
First I recogniced that the road to the border was more a track than a road. When I came to a sign telling me that I will leave Austria now there was more or less nothing showing you that are now entering another country. 
I think that is why I like the idea of Europe. No borders necessary to protect one from another. In the first village after the border I found the first sign for cycling path. Instead of eurovelo 7 I found interesting to see I am now on eurovelo 13, the iron curtain trail. This long distance path is over 10.000 km. Ok, looks like the signs for eurovelo 7 road are not ready yet. Again happy to have my mobile phone ans OsmAnd with me.
As mentioned before the track for this day was very challenging. A lot of ups and downs, the rain and later some cold wind from the west. In addition I didn’t have food left. So I stopped at the first petrol station. There I figured out that I really don’t know much about our neighbour Czech Republic. They are part of the European Union but they don’thabpve € yet. But they accept my bank card.
16.04.2017
I finished packing in the morning and my records sum up to 19kg additional weight I have to carry during my trip, food and water not included. .
My trip started in the morning at 09:18 by taking the train from Munich to Passau. The city is only 2,5 hours away. As I need to cycle 97km today I skip sightseeing and after buying some food at the train station I started immediately following the track.
I am using the Openstreetmap App OsmAnd+ for navigation and a bluetooth earphone. With this app it is easy to follow a track after downloading on the phone.
Most of the track today is along the Danube River (in German: Donau) following the Donauradweg, a long distance cycle path of 2850 km from the source to the Black Sea. I guess in summer I would see more other cyclists here, but today I counted less than 10 with luggage added to their bike for a longer trip.
There are not too much signs from the eurovelo project on the road telling. Today there was only one at the Austrian border. One reason may be that there is not a new road for this long distance cycling path. It is using existing pathes to connect far away places. From the sign I understood to follow the R1 – Donauradweg.
Along the Danube River there are a lot of castles and palaces from the Middle Ages. The river is used to produce electric power, too. One nice and impressive hydroelectric power station is called Jochenstein. It is possible to cross the river as a pedestrian or by bike.
In the past the pathes beside the river where used for horses to pull the boats (towpath). In Austria this pathes are called Treppelweg and used by the Danube Cycle Path very often.
After 5 hours and 15 minutes on the bike I reached my hotel in Linz. After taking a quick shower I went out to explore the city and find a dinner place. Not long after I left the hotel it starts raining. I was lucky today, as I had good weather conditions: cloudy and sometime the sun came out as well.
13.04.2017
Last working day. Still some time to prepare all luggage. Actually the estimated additional weight to carry is 11kg around. Lets see what is the final value 🙂