Day #14 – Finishing Stage 1 in Bautzen, Germany – Video too!

We once again stayed close to the Czech border as we continued our odyssey through this unspoiled part of Saxony, Germany. It has been two weeks since we left Paris, which means that we have another three weeks of steady cycling ahead of us. It also means that today is the last day of Stage 1. Here is a 3-1/2 minute video recap of Ride and Seek’s Napoleon Stage 1 2019, compliments of Michael Lister, one of the “A Team” riders from Gold Coast, Australia.

As a recap, here’s the map of Stage 1 from our earlier post.

Keep an eye out for the Stage 2 map in our next post 😉

Olbernau to Bautzen

  DAY #14 of 35   Germany   856 miles total

After morning coffee we headed north in the direction of Poland. Today’s ride was a big one – the 3rd big one in a row – and the 13th day of riding in the past 14 day. PLUS we did a 1.5 hour hike up 500 feet of stairs over lunch. To say the least, this was by far our hardest day, and at the end … WE WERE TOAST! However, the scenery was once again spectacular – we experienced many of the undulations that make this zone so attractive – and the hike was worth every step. So, off we went and headed to one of the most spectacular bridges in Europe.

The Bastei Bridge

The Final Push to Bautzen

At nearly 90 miles our ride today was a long one, no denying that, but it was also one of the most beautiful. After Bastei Bridge we had 3 tough hills to get out of town – one had AN 18% GRADE!!! Then we kept following streams and rivers to reduce the elevation gain as we headed to the picturesque town of Bautzen.

Since we share all the good stuff, we’ll share a bit of the trials and tribulations of being on the road. Shauna had a bit of a tough afternoon, especially after the fatigue of so much riding. While most drivers are fairly courteous, one first-rate a$$ zoomed by at top speed and so close that Shaunna swore if she had stuck her elbow out, he would have taken her out. It really shook her up with 15 mi to go yet. Then she came upon an accident (a motorcyclist, not a cyclist) but the gravity of it couldn’t help but evoke feelings of sadness for the hearts that would be shattered that day. And finally with just a few km left, excited by the sight of a huge downhill ahead, she followed it, which unfortunately was a wrong turn, and she had to turn around and climb back up an unscheduled hill. There may have been a few tears of fatigue (and relief) when she reached the hotel.

But overall the ride today was a fantastic and inspiring way to conclude the first of three stages. Bautzen provides a fitting destination to catch our breath before we head eastwards.

Stage One Conclusion

Bautzen makes the perfect place for a rest day – a quaint town with plenty of history, an abundance of sights and activities, and a lovely peaceful vibe. Over the course of the last two weeks we covered almost 900 miles on two wheels through France, Luxembourg, and Germany. Now it’s time to take a day off and discover all that Bautzen has to offer. More on that soon!

Our Route

Trivia Fact:   ‘RHEIN EM FLAMMEN’ is Germany’s spectacular midsummer inter-town gastronomic competition.

Situated along ‘der Rheingau’ this is the countries most famous stretch of food and wine. 8000 acres of vineyards in a 20-mile stretch of the west flowing Rhein’s exceptional wine climate. This pocket of paradise provides the inspiration for our German menu – here crisp Rhein riesling is sipped more frequently than Champagne, while Rheingau ‘Spätburgunder’ (pinot noir) accompanies Saxon pork knuckles and beef bonanzas with its charming German frankness! Protected by German purity laws the produce that has been perfected in these regions over centuries will be one of the outstanding gastronomical experiences of this tour, if not of your life.

Next Stop:   Wiechlice, Poland