Slovakia - Day 8: Myava to Holubyho Chata

One hundred miles and sweating.

A Sign

Looking at Czechia

Today we were in and out of Slovakia like no man’s business. Czech – Slovakia, Czech or Slovakia, Czechoslovakia – is that where it came from?

The day was just up, not too steeply but more or less continuously. Open field and fresh air to start with but soon back to our old friends the trees. The border game kept us busy along the route. Which side are we on someone would ask. Not a very exciting game as I write it but we had been in each other’s company for 8 days.

People ask what we talk about. To be honest I have no idea. But we are never bored always laughing. Topics range from differentiation, the potential efficacy of our bear drills to who indeed is the most useless one of us. The latter changing many times a day. With virtual prizes.

Our Feet

We were approaching half way to half way and had only met one other person doing the route and very few other walkers. Slovakia a beautiful and desolate place, not a description I would have used but hours could pass between us seeing other living soles. Is it the emptiness, the bear drills or the smell? The jury is out on that one.

We come out of the trees and see our destination. Triumphantly we walk up to it. Bodies mentally giving up – the end of the day.

Openness

Shit – the TV station is not the end and we have to trudge on another few hundred weary meters to the beautiful and newly restored Holubyho Chata. A room, a shower, good food a bit to drink, a parrot and very friendly people. Apparently, they live from Czech Tourists, Slovaks don’t go there.

False End

The Chata

It’s a nice place to stay – nice countryside and walking distance from Bratislava, Trencin and eventually Dukla. So, no excuses guys. Go for the weekend. Use it or lose it. Once again – we are not getting any commission but it will be a shame if these places disappear. You can ski there in a good winter – it has its own ski lift. And a cute owner says the wife. But she said better about the parrot so I am not too worried.

The Parrot

	Day 8	Cumulative
Distance Walked	17km	170km
Meters Climbed	765m	5,915m
Walking Time	5:17	54:59
Start Point	Walk goes through the town
End Point	Holubyho Chata
Via	Only trees, Czech – Slovak border stones
General Comment Went international. The cottage at the end of the day was perfect. Worth going just for the weekend. Mount Elbrus – 5,642 meters the highest mountain in Europe, Russia. Mont Blanc we laugh at you.