Day 5, Wallersdorf - Regensburg; July 23, 2003 (Wednesday)

I wake up and cannot stand up. Right leg, really hurts. Somehow I have to get either to Straubing or Regensburg. There I can find a camping. Straubing is not really on the way (too much towards north) but closer. Regensburg looking at map - ~60 km, and exactly on planned route.

While eating breakfast (included in the price) decided to struggle through to Regensburg. I know this will be a heavy day and cannot force my leg too much.

Till noon, half way through, was still fine. Could not ride fast but at least was moving. Partly cloudy, it is not so hot. Thaks God. Looks like it is going to rain, but that is still better that 40°C.

I wake up and cannot stand up. Right leg, really hurts. Somehow I have to get either to Straubing or Regensburg. There I can find a camping. Straubing is not really on the way (too much towards north) but closer. Regensburg looking at map - ~60 km, and exactly on planned route.

While eating breakfast (included in the price) decided to struggle through to Regensburg. I know this will be a heavy day and cannot force my leg too much.

Till noon, half way through, was still fine. Could not ride fast but at least was moving. Partly cloudy, it is not so hot. Thaks God. Looks like it is going to rain, but that is still better that 40°C.

So I stopped in Geiselhöring, small town. I spent there well over 3 hours trying to give some rest to my legs. At one moment while I was eating kebab I heard strange noise which was getting louder and louder. What the hell is it - I thought. Few secs later I knew...

I saw this tank two more times later on.

To Regensburg still 33 km. 

I carry on slower and slower, my hamstring is getting worse ad worse. Sometimes when I push the pedal I feel pain all the way through till the knee :-(

Have to stop every 3-4 kms for few minutes. Each kilometer seems to me like 10. Even small and smooth climbs become problematic and have to tackle them with lowest gear. Now you feel lonely and are fed up with everything and want to go back home (ideally by helicopter directly to your door-step).

I pass one road sign after another and this Regensburg is still so far away...

Suddenly I hear somebody talking to me from behind. I almost fell of the bike (too much weight). An old guy is asking me where I am going. We spoke for a while about our tours - he was local but bike enthusiast. Among other things he gave exact directions as how I can find the camping in Regensburg.

So I continue pushing both pedals in slow motion and reach the sign "Regensburg", unfortunatelly it is till another 10 or so kilometers till I will be able to rest my butt. Have to get to western part of the city. To make it worse I am on a huge road with heavy afternoon traffic (B50). If I want to escape that track I have to ride faster (pain, pain...) ... and then I reach intersections between this road and motorway (bloody hell). Have to climb up the bridge to cross this bloody road. Lorries are the worst, at least I am in Germany and nobody is hurrying me up like in Greece or Italy :-).

I hardly reach the old town, cross a huge gate (very old) and in a minute am by the Danube. I sit down on a bench. Here Danube is 3 times smaller than in Austria. I sit and rest and rest. I have maybe 2 more kms along the river for today.

Tomorrow I rest, have to have a look at rear wheel - the tyre does not properly fit the rim and rear hub looked stange -> when I was changing the tube yesterday, the lubricant boiled out of the hub.

But all in all I have already made over 460 km. More than 1/3 in 5 days! And it is great.

Distance: 76 km
Average speed: 15,66 km/h