Hungary was definitely over faster than Slovakia, which is partly due to being much flatter and also because at the end I shortened it by about 2 days.
I had a good feeling about Hungary and while not everything went great, I think it was justified. The people seemed a bit friendlier than in Slovakia.
An overview of the route, pictures and text can be found on Polarsteps.
Hungary is mostly flat and the route was at around 100 altitude meters. That should make it easy and possible to ride many kilometers. In theory, yes. In reality, it depends on the wind direction. Plus, the track led mostly along the dike, which prevents the river Tisza from overflowing. As a cyclists, this means monotonous rides and since we have a severe drought the vegetation was mostly brown and boring.
The country also tested my frustration level and I failed. It boiled over the day I had the second flat tyre while taking a “shortcut” 😡🤬 Also, my bike made screeching sounds since several days and that day they got worse. I checked the brakes, nothing. Oiled the chain, no success. Banged the bike, of course not helping. I was furious and it was better that I was alone and away from everybody at this moment. I thought its the bottom bracket and after some google search I found a bicycle shop an hour away. Headphones on and I rushed there with 30 kph. Worst case, I have to spend the weekend there. But best case scenario hit in: the guy took care of it immediately. Changed the bottom bracket, chain, checked the brakes but at the test ride it still made the noise. Phenomenal! He suspected the pedals, and he was right.
Those incidents are small and I “shouldn’t” feel so angry about them. But I think there is an underlying issue. I’m angry with life. Angry that loved ones are gone, that I feel alone, that I seem to have everything but cannot feel happy (anymore), that whatever used to make me happy isn’t working anymore, that others seem to have this or those person(s) in their life, that things don’t work out as they should (or used to), that I have no more dreams/ideas what to do with my life. Maybe it’s depression. In the end it is a struggle against what is and that fight I cannot win. I have a hard time accepting my life as it is. That is why I look with envy at stories of other people and think that I did something wrong. Otherwise, why can’t I be happy? It doesn’t matter what they do, may it be a world trip, found God, have a family, work with purpose, whatever.
But who defines how a life should be? Who defines how things work out? Who defines a successful life?
When I look at my trip at the map, it looks like a big question mark. Maybe a representation of what to do with my life, what to live for, why bother at all?
Heat was the major factor for deciding to take the train from Szolnok to Szeged. I can’t bear the heat anymore like I used to and it frustrates me. It’s no fun cycling while the thermometer hits above 35 degrees. So, this train trip saved me 2 days cycling in the heat and probably along monotonous tracks. Even though, I would like to cycle everything I have no regrets taking this shortcut.
Love,
Matthias