Into the Czech Republic...

On Monday, I was feeling pretty tired after the huge hike I did on Sunday, so I decided to do something easy. I hired a bike in Postelwitz, rode to the Czech Republic, crossed the Elbe on the ferry at Schmilka (which is in Germany), then rode back to Bad Schandau along the left bank. Lovely cliffs on the right bank which are best seen from the opposite side.

The Elberadweg - for the third time!!

Der Schrammstein from the left bank. Can you spot the canoes?

I took the ferry from Bad Schandau Bahnhof to the town itself and bought some postcards and an ice-cream. I had a look inside the church (which was nice and cool), then headed back to Postelwitz. On the way I stopped at the Personenaufzug – the elevator up the cliff between Bad Schandau and Postelwitz. It’s 50 metres high, with nice views up and down the Elbe. Then back to the Pension. By this time it was around 1pm and mid 30s again, so into the river to cool off before spending the afternoon in my room.

Der Personenaufzug just sort of sticks out in the middle of nowhere

From the top - looking towards Postelwitz and the Czech border

Around 6.30pm I ventured out again, riding into Bad Schandau to pick up something to eat, then heading a little further downstream, before returning to Postelwitz and dropping the bike off.

The river is lovely

On Tuesday I got to do my forest boat trip! I caught the red bus to Mezni Louka in the Czech Republic, which took half an hour. Then an hour’s stroll through lovely forest with quite a few birds around, before I came to Wilde Klamm – the wild gorge. Whilst waiting for the boat I had some lovely views of a Dipper - Wasseramsel in German, which is literally water blackbird. Having heard it sing, I understand the blackbird part, and it can swim like a duck, too! I didn’t see it dive, which it does as well. 

The red bus

The forest is green and peaceful

The creek and the rock walls keep it cool

The pathway is metal, juts out a lot and is NOT in the best condition

Dipper!

The departure point for the boat trip through Wilde Klamm

Then on to the boat with 20 other people, almost all of whom were speaking Czech (I only heard a few people speaking German all day, and none speaking English). A fifteen minute trip downstream, powered by a pole. Lovely. The Kamnitzbach is dammed in a couple of places so they can run these boat trips.

Waiting to board

Pole power!

Then a half hour stroll to Edmundsklamm (Edmund’s gorge). This gorge is more accessible, had far more people and many more boats operating. The cliffs are higher, too – it was really lovely. 

Approaching the departure point for the boat trip through Edmundsklamm

It's also known as Stille Klamm - quiet gorge

Really peaceful (if you ignore the Czech commentary!)

Stunning

After 20 minutes on this second boat, it was about 20 minutes walking to Hrensko, where I caught the red bus to Schmilka (it only goes on to Bad Schandau in the late afternoon). Until this point, I’d been feeling reasonably cool, with rock gorges and a creek hiding the real temperature. Once in Schmilka waiting for the normal bus back to Postelwitz, one realised very quickly that – yes – it was mid 30s again today. Back in Postelwitz and time for another swim!

Walking back to Hrensko

An evening swim in the Elbe