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Start: Prague, Czech Republic
End: Sedlčany, Czech Republic
Distance: 84.5km
Elevation Gain: 3474ft
Elevation Loss: 3162ft
Time: 8h04m
Reading Material: A History of the Jews – Paul Johnson
Audio Material: Diane Rehm Friday News Roundup (domestic & international); WTF Podcast (epc 381)

Description
Start of the leg from Prague to Vienna. My original plan was to head towards Brno and then south to Vienna. However, it turns out that the Czechs have been building out their long-distance cycling routes and there is a dedicated Prague-Vienna Greenways route which heads due south almost all the way to Czech/Austria border before veering east towards Vienna. According to my map and some scattered internet GPS tracks the route is ~480km and I’ve given myself a leisurely 8 days.

Heading out of Prague was bliss early on a Sunday morning. I tried to hew closely to the prescribed route which got me my first taste of mud tracks (heavy rain last night). Decided to stick to paved surfaces going forward and with only a few minor detours was able to pick up the Czech bike trail #11 which I’ll be following all the way to Tabor. Lots of rolling hills, a few hard ascents and a nice chunk of distance covered for my first day.

Interesting Sedlčany fact #8: Rainer Maria Rilke once visited a castle nearby.