First up, big thanks to Thomas and Ladi for organising getting my bike to the start line in one peice.

Scenery here is rolling hills, lots of patches of forest, roads thoughtfully lined with trees, ditches instead of hedges, massive fields, presumably due to soviet era collectivisation, lending the landscape a really open feel.

A fox with crosses the road ahead of me with what looks like a chicken in its jaws. Coasting silently down the road, all is quiet except for bird calls, the buzzing of bees, the flutter of butterflies chasing each other over wild flowers by the roadside.

Village tannoy systems broadcasting brief uplifting music followed by local news on the hour

Jesus on the cross, shrines everywhere, churches from tiny to oversized.

Splendid town halls, schools,

Most villages have a little bakery (great fresh pastries and bread), COOP (closed at lunchtime), and maybe a Pivovar (brewery)

Oh have i not mentioned castles yet? Castles!
In the UK we stopped building defensive castles ages ago, but here they were still a requirement until more recently. Therefore they come in all kinds of styles and such. Stopped at Svojanov for my first castle tour, including torture instruments and tales of wives bricked up inside walls and people going mad.

Camped in the woods at the highest point that stood out on the map, near an interesting looking meteorological station tower.