Biking Czech Republic

5 July 2023, Lysá nad Labem, 59.92km
Alfa Penzion 1400kč [R1162]

Some days are fabulous, but end, while not badly, certainly not as hoped... so we are going to bed dinnerless.
Google Maps came up trumps, plotting an excellent 55km route on minor roads to Lysá nad Labem, where we are spending the night.
Our transition from city (Jičín) to a country lane numbered 28019 was seamless thanks to the fact that we have finally found a way to attach my phone to my handlebars, making it possible for me to follow Google's direction instructions. Until just recently, we would have to stop at almost every intersection for me to get my phone out of my handlebar bag, open it, switch it on, locate myself on the map, and take the next step...
We rode through farmland where cherries are ripening in orchards, and rapeseed pods have turned from green to tan, and spinach stands proudly ranked on brown earth, and (opium) poppy seed heads were outlined against a cloud-skudded sky.
In every village, a church; in many a pond. At one pond where we walked close to the water to photograph the reflections, a dozen frogs plopped into the water to take refuge under the lilly leaves.
In one village we bought an eclectic breakfast of braun (for Charl), cherry yoghurt (for me) and muffin cookies at a "foodstuff" (potraviny) store. We ate what we had purchased on a bench outside. Two cars were parked nearby: a Skoda and a Dacin.
--
We had been unable to confirm accommodation at the hostel (ubytovna) in Lysá nad Labem, so were on the lookout for an alternative en route. One hostel was full, one hotel was too pricey, a camping option was some distance off our route...
Lysá nad Labem's ubytovna turned out to be a doss house, its manager unwilling to negotiate down her mismatched price. And so began a lengthy hunt for somewhere to sleep which included unanswered telephones and assistance from the police. We spent about two hours sitting in the garden of a penzion awaiting the return of the owner. She had no space for us, but made a call and found us a bed at Alfa Penzion.
It was almost 10pm by the time we checked in and four nearby restaurants were just closing their doors! Ah, well…