Up and away. Back to where we stopped just short of Komarom. First off is fine. Weather is cool and dull but no rain- headwind a nuisance but acceptable. I soon zoom through to the far side of Komaron and head across a very fine new bridge into Slovakia. It puts our bridges to shame and has its very own fancy cycle lane. First sign of trouble, as I ride across the bridge the wind tries to send me back to Romania!
From here on in its a war of attrition. Some nice things to see- I saw 2 deer in their natural habitat up close. One crossed the cycle track just in front of me. The cycle track is well surfaced and follows the river. On a normal early Summers day it would be fabulous- but it isn’t!
During the day the weather gets worse and worse. I am fighting the headwind that gets up to 20 mph and I am making very little headway for expending loads of energy. But I am sure I can make a decent job of the stage if I just hang in there. I watch travellers going the other way like rockets and -even worse- whilst I stop for a drink and to catch my breath two old farts go past chatting to each other without a care in the world and no sign of fatigue, on electric bikes!
Does anyone have an electric bike for sale? 😂
The final straw- I realise that Hooner is in this place. What could possibly go wrong? Luckily it’s in the middle of nowhere and seems to be permanently shut! I meet up with him and agree that I will make another 15 kms before I quit. That will take us to the agreed 8 hour day. After less than 2kms out of town I find the wind has picked up another notch an I struggle to get over 12 kph! No way am I going to make it. I make a call to can it for the day. There are big branches snapped off trees by the roadside and conditions are too much. We have a rest day tomorrow. Time to lick my wounds an get some rest. Forecast for Friday is warm with little wind. I should try to catch up then. I have done 77kms but they are hard earned!
Lennytranseurope 
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