Day nine Waidhaus - Plzen. Waited 24 hrs in Waidhaus for the rain to stop, but it did. The afternoon bike trip in CZ was the most beautiful so far, landscape wise. The unpaved sections were mostly puddles or small rivers at times, but still doable. Deer, roe deer, wren, black redstart singing, ravens, and a common kingfisher. Tomorrow Prague.

Day eight (technically nine) from Hirschau to the Czech border, quiet hilly eastern Bavaria. Shorter trip, as from noon the next 24 hrs a lot of rain has been forecasted again. Locals however don't trust these forecasts. But the sky in the west is blue, and in the east grey. Really, thick grey. Rain already started...

Next day I took a break to let some rain pass and have some body parts recover. Campsite in Hirschau next to a kaolin mine; the quarts sand (waste) pile next to it is in use for downhill "skiing", on sand. Oh well.

Day six meant following the Main-Donau canal for most of the stretch, not the most exciting, landscape wise. Spent some time in Bamberg. In Erlangen @tim_salabim joined me, and showed a very beautiful route to Nürnberg; we had a good time together!

Day five: rain, hills, wind, cold, welcome in Bavaria. After a steep 200 m climb a long steep descent followed, which comes with automatic head wind. Rain pouring not only made it hard to see anything, but also taught me that my rain coat doesn't stop all rain. Mm. More bike paths on former tram tracks. White wagtails, a common greenshank, autumn crocus. Tomorrow I'll be meeting @tim_salabim !

Day four: found a good bike repair person in Rotenburg, and have my 14 gears back! That took half of the day, strong head winds made me go slow so I skipped a section (train) to reach today's destination: Gersfeld, Rhön area. Valleys getting narrower and steeper, ravens, pine trees, fieldfares. Beautiful bike paths. No way I could have done this without the repair. Tomorrow rain & hills!

Third day: second bike shop in Kassel could "fix" my bike, giving me back gears 7-14. Means that on steeper ascents now I don't die a little (as usual) but die hard. Mm. Continued along the Fulda with its slow curving meanders along steep forested hills. What else does this landscape offer beyond stunning views? Sun, head winds, late summer smell, rain, you name it. Skies with clouds you can't make up. Made a lot of BW pictures (on film). Tomorrow more bike fixing, I hope.