Editor's note: Steve Stevens, of Golden, is riding his 1887 "Penny Farthing" bicycle from Liverpool, England, to Tehran, Iran, the second leg of an around-the-world bike ride first ridden in 1885 by Thomas Stevens. YourHub.com will reprint selections of his trip journal and his photos along the way. The entire journal, which he updates daily, is available at
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/page/?o=lt&page_id=32978&v=71
Totally wet - rain all day. HARD RAIN...feet soaked: Into
Hungary to TA'T ---
Monday May 1, 2006, 65 miles (105 km) - Total so far: 1,435 miles (2,309 km) I left the Pension at Gabcikova, Slavic Republic at 8 after
a good night's rest and proceeded to the trail. It was quite
good for 30 Km except for the heavy rain and the barriers to
keep cars off the trail. They required a dismount for each
one...about 1 per Kilometer. The trail then turned into
coarse pea gravel so I went to roads and cruised the North
side of the Danube for another 20 km before crossing into
Hungary. After feeling totally wet and discouraged I found
an "Internet Kafe" with a very nice propriietor who spoke
perfect English. I had a bite to eat and a liter of Grape
Juice but his computer was really a game room computer without Internet connectivity. However, after I gave him the web page address and my E-mail he offered his phone number and said that if I had any problem in Hungry to give him a call. 5 KM FURTHER I found an internet connection in a hotel and liked the warm dry room. I asked about a room for the night and was told that they were full {German Tour Bus}... but the desk clerk found a private room 100 meters away{15 dollars} for me and indicated I could use the hotel facilities otherwise. I took it happily and went and cleaned up and came back to a 22 dollar dinner. Restaurants are at USA PRICES BUT LODGING IS CHEAP. The prediction is for rain 7 of the next 10 days.... to go with all of the last 6 days. I saw 2 deer and 7 pheasants...and over 30 Hares.... they really run fast. They look a bit like a rabbit but much bigger and run the same way but longer distances and fast. I miss Colorado SUNSHINE .
May 2 entry
Trails bad... under water or mud: Into Budapesh...then backtrack to find a room 56 miles (90 km) - Total so far: 1,491 miles (2,400 km) Good News... No Rain today. That is no NEW rain. The countryside was lovely along Rt 11. However within 20 km of Budapesh I was not allowed on the road and also the trail was under water or mud... so I road on the road against the signs. In Budapesh I tried a motel and they were full... they said the only hope was back the direction I had come. I backtracked. The second one I came to had a remaining room for 125 US Dollars. I am there. I decidedto stay in Buda Pest for a couple of days to see the sights so I searched the Hospitality site and found a lovely couple to take me in... Marta and Laszlo Nagy. They live 20 Km East of downtown. I will ride there tomorrow AM and then see the town for a day or so.
My Hosts in Budapest
Thursday May 4, 2006
I went into town at 7:00 AM with the commuters... Bus and then Subway. Both were Packed. Once I got to Buda (I am staying in a suburb of Pest) I caught the Castle bus up the hill to the historic district. It rained all morning after steady all night rains. I do not think that the Danube will drop its level soon.