After 3 and a half days seeing sights of Dresden and catching train back to see Konigstein fortress and the sandstone bridge it was time to get peddling and farewell the family.

Leaving Dresden was suprisingly easy for a city but within 10kms a diversion had us seriously lost. Ahead was a very busy road with trucks thundering past on a very narrow stretch going uphill.I could see on our map if we went along this road for about 3 kms we’d rejoin the Elbe.Hubby was refusing to cycle along it. At this point a young man came out of the swimming pool building and pointed out a turn off to the elbe bike path just 20metres away back down the road, the sign hidden by a bush. We must have been a good source of entertainment to the staff, me throwing the map on the ground, hubby getting irate…

Anyway back on the path with a few more diversions we made it to pretty pottery town  of Meissen.We didnt have time for the pottery tour and having seen the prices for the Meissen porcelain in Dresden just aswell to give it a miss.Nice morning tea stop though.

No country pubs forthcoming finally reached Reisa and even though large town centre only kebab shops and ice cream parlours.So it was a kebab for lunch and coffee in the ice cream parlour. The famous ironstone statue of the source of the Rhine was strange to say the least.

Very rough surfaces and cobbles as we got diverted yet again. Farms  seemed very poor and the whole landscape full of  barren fields.No lush green meadows of the Middle Elbe.At least there were now birds and insects, the czech countryside seemed devoid of these.

From Riesa it was a short stretch to Strehla to a beautiful pension overlooking the Elbe.Here in Strehla the advancing Russians met the advancing Americans in April 1945 . Strehla is also home to thelegend of the Elbe water nymph who lured sailors to their death.

Plenty of good reading material, a pub just around the corner for food and a comfy bed.Bliss after our 68km ride.

Gasthaus am Nixen

Strehla

Great place but no wifi