Sometimes the most rich and memorable experiences occur when you get lost. I say this having plenty of experience, and seem to be accumulating more daily. I couldn’t help reflecting on this early this morning when I left my little hotel only to find that the arduous 3 km climb that concluded my day yesterday could have been avoided by taking a flat road that somehow I missed. But had I not taken a wrong turn, I would have missed the lush orchards full of buzzing honeybees, the leathery old man gardening with his shirt off who gave me an appreciative nod and the golden late afternoon sunlight filtering through the trees as I slowly pedaled my way up the hill. And this morning, had I not gone the exact wrong direction out of Biskupice and headed up a steep series of switchbacks towards Zálesí, I would have missed seeing this Czech man picking wildflowers, cheering me on, and then having him helpfully direct me back on course when I stopped minutes later, obviously lost.  

Today ended up being a gorgeous and fast ride of about 75 miles into Brno. After yesterday’s challenges in the heat, which almost left me camped out in the dairy isle of a grocery store, I resolved to get started very early and was on the road by 5:00 am, with the moon still in the sky.

  

  

 I followed an extremely well signed bike route that took me along quiet roads with rolling hills, through woods and along a pretty stream. 

  

  

For second breakfast, I stopped in a little town called Chornice, where a Sunday market and country fair was just coming to life. At 8:30 am, it was already warm and in the beer garden, the first customers were enjoying a cold Czech beer or “pivo.” It looked delicious but I opted for a strong coffee and a slice of dense rye bread, honey and extra crunchy PB, and enjoyed the scene. 

 I sure wish I knew the story of whomever got third place. Didn’t end well evidently.

I got almost five hours of riding in before the heat once again arrived, but by then I had Brno in my sights. 

One more snack (they know a thing or two about pastries here) to get me through the beautifully shaded, but steep, hills into Brno, by which time the temperature was into the high 90s. Dang, missed a spot of sunscreen again!

 I made it in time for a late lunch looking out the window of my hostel and what might have been the most delicious beer of my life!