Day 8: Wed 25 Jun - Budapest

21-34 deg C, fine and sunny. The sun was a bit bitey in the afternoon

Ride: 24km; total: 75km

Walk G: 6km; total: 75km

Walk W: 6km; total: 70km

We were a bit later to breakfast this morning as we’re are still dealing with our home internet issues. Finally got some traction from our ISP, so will see how long it takes to sort the problem out. After breakfast we took the bikes for a ride to Margaret Island, the long way. It was such a lovely morning we decided to keep riding to the next bridge. It just happens to be the way to our next destination tomorrow, so it was a good opportunity to do a recon. Eventually we ended up the other side of the river and on our way to the island. We haven’t seen too many islands in our travels that you get to via a road that comes off the side of a bridge half way across. Once on the island there were bike paths everywhere. A visit to the Centenary Monument, the Musical Fountain, the ruins of a Medieval Dominican Convent and Royal Mansion, Margaret Island Water Tower and Japanese Gardens followed. The musical fountain was pretty amazing, so many moving parts, sights and sounds. So relaxing we could have watched it all day. 

The ride home was on the other side of the river, then over the Chain Bridge back to the hotel. We parked the bikes in the breakfast room as we needed to do some adjustments before we set off tomorrow. Lunch was in the room, then a rest, before attacking the bikes with a set of allen keys. Adjustments done, we retired to our room again to do a trial pack; Wendy’s gear only just fitted in, while Greg has half a pannier of free space.

We are happy with the bikes, how they ride and their economy: after riding 64km, we have 71% battery capacity remaining with a range of 87km. So theoretically, in Eco mode we could get 151km out of a battery charge. However that doesn’t take into consideration hills, headwinds nor a couple of full panniers on the back rack. 

We didn’t venture out again until dinner time as we were still playing with luggage, etc. Dinner was had at the same Vietnamese restaurant as last night. It was good again.  

Centenary Monument to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Buda, Pest and Óbuda uniting to become Budapest, in 1973

Musical Fountain 

Medieval Dominican Convent and Royal Chapel

Margaret Island Water Tower

Bike and foot path around the island

Japanese Gardens

These beautiful creatures are out and about in their 1000s

Olympic rings from either the 1920 Games (eventually held in Antwerp), or the 2024 Games from which they withdrew in 2017 after winning the bid in 2013

Danube River scenery never gets boring

A cute little mouse hanging off a mortar shell embedded in the wall

The Water Spring, not very much water ‘springing’

Greg found a zero alcohol beer in a 500ml bottle, very nice he reckons

Thank you for reading the blog. If you want to make a comment, and can only do it anonymously, please include your first name at the end, so we know who you are!