Blog: Walking across Slovakia: Day 10

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)

200km Yipee.

In my geographical ignorance I never realised that Trenčín was so close to the Czech Republic – you learn something every day. I mean its walking distance!

We had a close up and personal with wildlife today. We saw a fox on the road in front of us. We ‘quietened’ down and crept forward. A waste of effort. The fox just kept walking down the road towards us. We stopped, it didn’t. It wasn’t a big road and eventually the fox stopped on the opposite side of the road to us and sat down. Now, I am not a wildlife expert but this didn’t seem normal. Either very young or rabid was my guess, I bravely stepped in front of the other three, a human shield. Evan passing cars didn’t faze the fox. It was beautiful. But we left slowly watching it carefully. But don’t worry, rabies injections are not as bad as they used to be. Afterwards we explained rabies to the kids – Shock! Horror! Made us laugh.

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People! – there were other people walking. Not the walk but walking, and not just to the shops. We could have photos of all four of us together.

It was a long day and of course to add insult to injury we got ‘roaded’ – and to rub salt into the wound, going downhill and had to climb back up. It was hotter on the way up. This was one of the very few places that we knew we had mislaid the path. It has been very well marked, fields like fields everywhere are an issue but everywhere else is great.

I remember a big cross on a hill – don’t know what it was for but everyone was taking photos of each other in front of it. So we had some taken too. Rolling green hills, wide open valleys and civilization way down below. Life is good for those who walk.

The journey down into Trenčín, I know I said Slovakia was up, was a bit boring. Well, a lot boring – other than the swing hung from a tree in the middle of a field. We enjoyed that.

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We marched into Trenčín, and promptly took a taxi to Trenčianske Teplice – we will walk back to Trenčín tomorrow. This backwards thing started in England, and we thought it funny enough to make it a tradition. Not always easy to do – but hey its tradition.

Still no parrot…

Distance walked: 29km (221km in total)
Meters climbed: 758m (7,131m in total)
Walking time: 9:21 (70:57 in total)

Start point: Mikulčin Vrch
End point: Trenčianske Teplice

General comment
Actually stayed in Trenčianske Teplice (Spa town), two nights and will do day 11 backwards. This makes washing and smelling good easier.

Mount Aconcagua– 6,961 meters the highest mountain outside of Asia, Argentina. Long live Top Gear.

By John Nicholson

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