Day 4 - Waldeck - Wunsiedel

This is the route we rode today:

Day 4! Another day in the Fichtelgebirge, and we’re finding our rhythm now. Breakfast was served at 8 and since we already had access to our bikes, we got some prep work done beforehand. Breakfast was solid again — fueled up properly before the big day. But of course, no ride starts without the sacred ritual: the getting started picture.

Now, a bit of context: yesterday evening we went looking for a bakery or somewhere to grab a drink in the surrounding towns. No luck. These places are deserted. Most towns around here are so small that even Google Maps looks confused. So we smartly asked the hotel to prepare a lunch package, because otherwise it would’ve been a 10km detour just to eat. Planning ahead for once!

Almost immediately after starting we began climbing the first of three hills. But — surprise, surprise — the track disappeared on us again. So there we were, pushing our bikes through woods and meadows like some kind of off-road expedition team. Classic Gressens adventure.

At the top of the climb we stumbled upon a big bonfire. We saw a tractor coming down so I think the farmer had just lit it. Pretty fun to feel some warmth on a chilly morning before zipping downhill.

And then we spotted some very cute alpacas! Super fuzzy and cuddly looking, but we wisely kept our distance. You never know when those things decide to spit, and I’d rather not add “alpaca saliva” to my cycling jersey’s stain collection.

Then the main event started: the big climb. 400 meters of elevation over 10 kilometres. I had rerouted things yesterday evening because the original plan had us going up steep trails, and I figured gradual climbing would be more survivable. We started at 10 and reached the top at 960m around 13:10. Three hours of climbing — my legs were having a conversation with me that I won’t repeat here. First stop along the way looked like this:

Not long after, we found a sunny spot and took another break. My brother had brought a small phone stand, and there happened to be some wooden piggy sculptures around. So naturally, a mandatory family photo with the piggies was required.

A bit later we spotted a whole herd of deer — pretty magical moment. When we started biking again, my dad had already parked himself at a nice-looking cabin. It was 11:40 and the spot was too good to pass up, so we decided to have our lunch there.

We even made soup! But clumsy me decided to spill my entire bowl. Just… the whole thing. Gone. Luckily my dad and brother are generous souls and shared theirs. After lunch, the real trail upward began — roots and stones everywhere. Smooth riding was officially over.

Now, probably some of you don’t understand why we enjoy this. And honestly, during these sections we curse, swear, and have conversations with every deity known to mankind. But afterwards? We look back and feel proud of our little adventures. It’s a weird cycle. Pun intended.

The last part of the trail was super rocky. I was literally laughing out loud watching my dad and brother team up to push their heavy e-bikes up these boulders. That’s the one advantage of my normal MTB — when the terrain gets ridiculous, lighter is definitely better. Karma for all those hills where they smugly zoomed past me.

At the top there was a cool observation tower, and my brother and I decided to go up.

It was pretty cold up there, and I have to confess that heights aren’t exactly my favorite thing. But I’m glad we went to the top. We could actually trace back where we had cycled from — quite the view.

My dad stayed below (smart man), so of course we had to shout “PAPAAAA!” down to him. Teasing dads from observation towers is basically a family tradition at this point.

Afterwards we cycled along the ridge of the mountain and found some ruins. Obviously we had to check those out — we’re not animals.

And then it was time to descend. It was quicker than expected and a lot muddier than expected. But hey, we’re mountain biking, right? My brother came out looking like he’d been through a chocolate factory explosion.

We rolled into Waldershof and almost couldn’t find coffee and something tasty. These small towns, I tell you. But we eventually scored at a supermarket. I enjoyed my strawberry croissant so much that I sent my brother back in to buy me a second one. No shame.

After our caffeine and pastry fix, we only had 9km to go. But I was tired, and the amount of roots and stones was making me cranky. Easy does it though — I have to admit these were actually nice paths to ride on once I stopped being grumpy about it. We even came across a big river to cross, but luckily there was a small bridge beside it. Adventure, yes. Swimming with bikes, no thanks.

We arrived at the hostel around 16:30 and cleaned up our bikes and baggage. Went up to our room and discovered… no towels. Which is normal for hostels, but still. We started making all kinds of elaborate plans to solve the towel crisis — air drying, using spare clothes, you name it. Then we just went down to reception and rented towels for a couple of euros. Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one.

Now we’ve had a good dinner and maybe there’ll be time for a Rummikub rematch. Our dad is hoping tonight is his night. Who knows — miracles happen!

That wraps up day 4. See you tomorrow for the final chapter! 🚵