This ride we did quite a while ago, but since this week was pretty lousy weather with up to -15 C and we did not feel like riding. This just means we have time to write about some historical rides. One of them was in the area around Kunžak which is called Česká Kanada. The name was created in the 1920s as a promotion for tourism and the definition of this area was vague for a long time. In 1994 the natural park Česká Kanada was officially established. Besides the natural beauty, the main tourist attraction is the ruin of the castle Landštejn. However, we came here because we are enthusiastically following the life and teachings of the Czech genius Jára (da) Cimrman. And here, in the railway station Kaproun, is one of the most important memorials of this cultural and scientific Czech giant. It was right here where he was kicked out of the train on the night of the 28th of June 1900. So if you will be coming through the station Kaproun, which is in the middle of the forest, do not forget to give your respect to this unique personality. Cimrman’s work is very much alive in the Žižkovské divadlo Járy Cimrmana in Prague, which now has even the English mutation, Cimrman English Theater (CET). The group even travelled to America to promote this Czech genius. We have supported this mission and became honorary members of CET.
The ride from Kunžak to Lomy was on quite a busy road, but after that, the rest of the ride was on well-maintained bike paths. The only tricky part was a short piece around point 4. This is the most important spot of the trip – the Cimrman memorial, which you should not skip by following the bike path 1241. You can also use the train from Lomy to Kaproun – a very interesting ride on the narrow gage train, operating here since 1897, where they will be happy to transport your bicycle. If this ride seems to be too short and uneventful for you, you can try to come back from Suchdol via a combination of blue and red tourist marks (as shown on the second map below). When we rode this part, the trail was pretty challenging since we had to carry our bikes across the bunch of fallen trees. However, it was a long time ago and we believe that those obstacles are now long gone. The ride along the stream Struha back to Kunžak is very pleasing, even though you have to be very careful in several locations.
On the way back from Kanada you may consider visiting the castle Červená Lhota, which is quite an interesting architectural creation.
https://en.mapy.cz/s/fujezahufo 27 km, 370 m elevation gain. To see this ride in context, check our interactive maps.
https://en.mapy.cz/s/bejegerese 11 km
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