DIARY BALATON
Look at the page of BALATONI NAPLÓ (on the left)
Diary about trips by bike near the Lake Balaton
My wife and I had been planning for several years to go by bike around Lake Balaton. With some difficulties, this summer we managed it.
First day: We started from Balatonalmádi at 15.10 p.m. on Friday afternoon. On the height at Balatonaliga we admired the lake and after bathing, we continued to cycle in the direction of Balatonendréd. That day we covered 52 kilometres, from this 46 kilometres brought us nearer to our destination because Balatonendréd lies 6 kms south of Lake Balaton. However, it was worth taking this detour. This village is located in a delightful landscape and it is surrounded by valleys and green-covered hills. After dinner, when looking at the map we stated that we would be able to take this trip in four days if we cover about 50 kms in half a day.
Second day: On Saturday, we were cycling easily towards Balatonboglár. From there, we had a wonderful view of the northern shore of Lake Balaton. We tried a few recumbents, Monica (my wife) also got on the two-wheeled ones. I tested the Velocraft, which is a real feather-weight recumbent. Afterwards, we continued our way to Balatonmáriafürdő, which is a quiet resort. This small settlement is about 7.5 kilometres long, and the widest place is 500 metres. On Saturday, we covered 56 kilometres.
Third day: On Sunday morning we again set off. One of the most picturesque landscape on our way waited for us. We were cycling through woodlands as far as the town Keszthely. There we descended to the harbour, and we continued our way towards the Badacsony Hills. On Sunday, we made 59 kilometres.
Fourth day: On Monday, around noon, the tyres of Monica's bike got flat, so she went home by train. I got on my AZUB-BION X wondermachine and I was cycling home at high speed, in a strong cross wind. Besides, think of my legs just getting better! I hoped I would reach earlier the Balatonalmádi railway station than she. I could move on well as far as Tagore promenade in Balatonfüred. Here, on the cycle lane I could not progress because of some staring pedestrians and some events taking place there. What a shame, I had to push my recumbent. The train overtook me near Alsóörs, so I could not make up for lost time. Anyway, we got home exactly at the same time, around 14.16 p.m. And in ten minutes, it was pouring with rain, then it was hailing! On Monday, we made 54 kilometres.
The cycle lane around Lake Balaton, according to our measurements, is about 215 kilometres, together with some false tracks. On the whole, we spent 29 hours and 21 minutes on the way, of it 14 hours and 18 minutes were spent in the saddle or in the recumbent (as I went by recumbent). The maximum speed was 37 km/h, the average speed 15 kms/h. The way of the biker is made difficult by several factors, such as cross wind, rain, dog-days, steeple rise, or breakdown of the bike. Of course, certain circumstances can help us in progressing, e.g. wind in the back, fine weather or the slopes. Except for the dog-days, we experienced everything on our way. However, the most determining factor was the puncture.
It is very pleasant to cycle in the surroundings of Lake Balaton. The landscape is lovely, and you can find several beauty spots. Travelling is more or less safe. On the other hand, the quality of the cycle lane (or rather its imitation) varies from county to county. In Zala county for example, it takes you along beautiful sceneries and it is really a cycle lane all along. There are also information signs. In Somogy county, you can hardly find proper cycle lanes, they are mainly byways of light traffic. The information signs are incomplete or misleading. In Veszprém county, there are cycle lanes in several places, however, in quite varied quality. Besides, on both sides of the lanes weeds and grass are growing. In some places, there are no cycle lanes or roads of light traffic, e.g. in Balatonrendes the cyle lane ends and you will find it again in Balatonszepezd. In Veszprém, even some of the roads are in miserable condition, but it seems the cycle lanes are in even worse condition. Some of them were built from funds gained by application or out of sheer prestige, in varied quality. However, hardly anybody cares about their maintenance, but, of course, there are a few exceptions to this rule.