Day 10 on the Elbe Cycle Route

Today’s route took us from Reisa to Dommitzsch, 45 miles.

We said our goodbyes to Elise today. She’s off to her next adventure in Dresden, and while we’re excited for her, we’re sad to lose our fantastic German translator! She studied abroad here for a year during college and kept us out of trouble these past few days. In the small towns we’re now passing through, our embarrassingly basic German skills just don’t cut it.

And because one of our most devoted blog readers requested more food photos (and moms always win) — here you go. Last night’s dinner at an Irish pub was classic comfort food: shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash.

Today was a longer ride at 45 miles, and thanks to a trail closure, we detoured off the river path into hilly forests. The ups and downs were a fun change of pace.

We paused in Torgau, about two-thirds of the way through the day, for lunch at a sunny café…

…where pasta was the carb of choice. (This one’s for you Joan!)

Properly fueled, we wandered to the castle — the oldest in Europe built as a residence rather than a fortress.

Since the 1400s, the castle has (off and on) kept European brown bears — cousins to grizzlies — in its moat.

Inside the courtyard, Bob climbed an architectural marvel: a freestanding spiral staircase built in the 1530s.

No central column, no attachment to the walls — just stone steps suspended in space.

Bob confirmed that after nearly 500 years, the steps aren’t the slightest bit woobly!

On our way out of town, we passed Carl Loebner’s toy store, in continuous operation since 1685 and now run by the 12th generation. Somehow we expected a 340-year-old toy shop to feel different, but inside it looked… well, like a perfectly normal toy store.

From there we rolled into Dommitzsch, a tiny town where our hotel turned out to be very comfortable.

Bonus: it has its own beer garden and restaurant!

Dinner was pork medallions with potatoes and chicken risotto — a good end to a good day.

Tomorrow we’ll keep following the river, with another 45 miles ahead.

Good night!