Bled to Olomouc

Of course there are the obligatory practical jokes and when we got up this morning our car was facing the opposite way to the way we left it and with no windscreen wipers! Several pairs of wipers had been placed on one car and we had the job of identifying ours. The blame was put on Andy, one of the Welsh team with a penchant for practical jokes (shaving foam on the car of an aspiring Conservative MP which stated 'I vote Labour' and 'Gordon Brown is my hero'. Stickers on Kate and Luke's car saying' Kate is hot' which Kate didn't mind at all and another car wrapped in cling film).
But this time it wasn't Andy and to our great surprise one of the Danish team owned up to instigating this and even wanted to put the car on the steps! Really glad he didn't get support for this one.

Anyway once off we decided speed was of the essence3 today as it was the longest journey so motorways would be used although they are expensive. We decided to avoid the Slovenian one and head back to the Austrian motorway. But the best laid plans etc don't take into account Kevin's impulsive streak and a sudden turn saw us on the Slovenian motorway searching for a pay point where we could purchase the necessary vignettes before getting pulled up by the police. 85 euros got the two cars the necessary permits for both motorways and Kevin paid up.

The journey was more boring with little to entertain us apart from Kate missing the turning in Vienna as Kevin made yet another last minute decision to leave the motorway. In fairness we didn't get much warning. We managed to talk her back to us although poor Luke who had been in a deep sleep never really recovered from the string of abuse that Kate's delicate mouth screamed.

The roads were busy, noisy and dirty and after trawling slowly down A roads towards Brno we went cross country. A smaller but much better road took us over the Czech border with no problems. The area became more industrialised and the road conditions poorer. How we missed the wonderfully smooth Germanic motorways.

We decided to go straight to Olomouc to get the challenge completed. Arriving there at 5.45 pm it had been a long journey and we now had to walk for what seemed miles around the town. But what a town it is. I wouldn't have given it a second glance on the map but the historic town is filled with beautiful architecture, statues and churches. Well worth a visit.

But light failed us again and we saw our first place fade with it. Last back to the hotel and what a feat that was. It took an hour to find how to get off the dual carriageway to get to the hotel which was plainly visible from the said road!!

Well last day tomorrow and off to Poland.

Take care
xx