Day 19 (19. Tag) 23rd September
Bratislava - Nova'Straz - 105 kms (1079.0 kms from start)
Bratislava - Cunovo - Vojka - Kraftwerk - Sap - Medved'ov - Cicov - Klizska Nema - Male'Kosihy - Nova'Straz
Click here for Day 20 - Nova Straz - Esztergom
We packed early and left the hotel at around 7.00 am. It was cool and cloudy as we rode out of Bratislava staying on the right bank. The Radweg goes under several bridges including the main highway bridge (Pristovny Most) where it crosses over to the left bank. We decided to stay on the right bank and rode through some fairly run-down industrial areas along the way. There were also several gravel works where large gravel from the river was being crushed into small grade particles, probably for the roadworks which were taking place everywhere. The surface of the Radweg was fine at this point - it appeared to be an access road for vehicles but was not busy at this time of day.
At Cunovo we dropped down from the Radweg and rode into the village looking for supplies. This was no easy task as there didn't seem to be the normal small supermarket one finds in almost every village in Germany or Austria. I asked a lady in the street for directions to a supermarket. She said the word 'klein' which is small in German and pointed us in a general direction. After riding round the block and still not finding anything, Don noticed a young woman coming out of a house carrying a plastic bag with groceries. Eureka! We went inside and sure enough it was a Mini supermarket but it wasn't evident on the outside. We bought breakfast and lunch items then headed back the way we came to the Radweg again. Here we stopped at a closed Bierstube (Kiosk) and had breakfast. No doubt this was a fun place in the summer time on weekends. The sun was trying to come out but it was still cool. From here we followed the Radweg across a couple of bridges past the Danubiana Art museum and onto a magnificent Treppelweg which runs along the left bank of the Privodny Canal. The track was an access road which is closed to normal traffic - it was made with hot tar which gives a fantastic surface and it was dead straight for many kilometers. The Danube itself goes through a vast wetland at this point which we skirted around. We passed the ferry at Kyselica, stayed on the Treppelweg and didn't go down into Vojka or Bodiky.
We passed several waterworks which controlled the release of water into the canal. Someone had set up a sign near the entry to Vojka showing accommodation so we were reassured that it wouldn't be too hard to get a room tonight further along the route. One of the tell-tale signs of a village ahead was always the amazing water tower set up high to allow pressure. You could see them a long way off in the distance.
We continued riding until we came to a major Kraftwerk which we crossed. There seemed to be a lot of visitors that day - bus groups, tourists as well as tradespeople. There was a cafe in the complex but it didn't look very inviting so we moved on.
Once over the other side, we swung around to the track that follows the left bank of the canal and met a party of Americans who were riding the other way. They told us to use the roads and not the Radweg further along as it deteriorated into a loose gravel track which was impossible to ride along. The left bank track was a narrow gravel access road shared by trucks and tractors. We had lunch along the way then passed the towns of Sap and Medved'ov. We stopped to take a photo of a house with a thatched roof. The backyards were filled with all sorts of crops as well, very unlike Australia. It was now starting to get warmer so off came the thermals and jackets. By this stage Don wanted to look for a room and we thought we would try in Cicov.
We rode into the town and looked for some signs. We were after a particular place and finally found it but there was nothing free. The girl in the yard seemed quite indifferent and I had the feeling that they probably didn't want to rent out a room for one night only. She gave us another name and a direction and we rode north looking. After about 5kms we decided to turn back and try another place we had seen but which we initially rejected because it looked so run down. We stopped to get directions from some women picking apples. They were very friendly and gave us 4 beautiful apples over the fence and we rode on. There was no-one answering at the accommodation place which was very frustrating. It was starting to get late but we decided the only thing to do was to continue to Komarno. We took the inland track to Klizska Nema then a very bad gravelly Radweg to Male Kosihy. Don felt it would be better for us to get off the track and to go north through the town and meet up with the main road. The highway had good shoulders wide enough for bikes but we did have to dodge walnuts from the many trees growing alongside. We rode past Zlatna na Ostrove and Nova Straz we saw a motel with large and beautifully landscaped grounds. It looked expensive but this would have to be it for the night as Komarno was still some way off and it was now around 5.00 pm. The light would fade soon and it would be too dangerous on the road which was pretty hairy with all the traffic even in daylight. The motel had a lovely restaurant, the room was tastefully furnished but it had a real problem in the bathroom. There was no shower curtain and no floor drain so the floor flooded and ran out onto the carpet. This was a terrible design fault. My bedside lamp didn't work and for almost 100 Euros a night this is inexcusable. I would not recommend the place. We also had to park our bikes outside but the waitress assured me there was security at night and the gates are also secured. On the other hand the food in the restaurant was very good.
