Blog: Walking across Slovakia: Day 6

No tents, no sleeping rough, two teenagers and two adults, 900km, 4 rucksacks and some maps, a lot of maps: this is going to be fun.

(Source: John Nicholson)

A short day – everyone needs a rest. We find that a short day or two is better than a day doing nothing. Doing nothing seems to be cheating somehow.

A very nice grave yard – the track goes straight through. Ján Hollý is buried there, he’s famous, but still dead. I don’t mean to be heartless. But if he’s not dead being buried won’t have made him happy. Unusually, and maybe uniquely there are some two-legged stone grave stones. Fashion I suppose.

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Just into the forest there is the very nice Dobrá Voda castle, 14th – 17th century. Ruins, but quite well preserved and in a wonderful location. After spending an hour wondering around, let’s not say resting, of we go again.

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Today is our last day in this part of the Karpaty – we will miss the trees.

Wildlife!

Well, turns out to be some kind of hunting place. Wild boar, mouflon, deer – OK a zoo, but still pretty.

We stayed in Rekreačné Zariadenie Partizán. A big socialist era hotel that now mainly caters for sports groups. Quite a big place, friendly staff etc. We had the place to ourselves, and the keys, just us no staff. Therefore, the communal toilets, bathrooms and TV lounge – the last of the Tour de France (go for it Chris). Common showers but since we had the whole place to ourselves and the keys who cared. 

Ate in town – food always tastes great when you are hungry. Bryndzové halušky (If you haven’t tried it, it’s food. We like it. Be warned it is a traditional dish therefore by definition peasant food. But also by definition delicious.) – hmmmmmm. Seems the further you get from a big city – the nicer people get. Including the people from the big cities. Strange that. Why can’t we be nice all of the time.

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Back up the hill to the mansion – it’s a hard life. 

Distance walked: 12km (136km in total)
Meters climbed: 347m (4,598m in total)
Walking time: 4:34 (44:14 in total)

Start point: Dobrá Voda, village square
End point: Brezová pod Bradlom (walk goes through the town)
Via: All in the forest – no refreshments

General comment
Dobrá Voda castle – a jewel in the middle of the forest.
A short day – thank you.
Mauna Kea – 4,207 meters the highest mountain in Hawaii. One a day.

By John Nicholson

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