Walking was painful when I started out today, the right side of my back did not want my right leg to move. I told myself that the agony would subside as I continued to walk, and so it proved. Then my left knee became painful, so around lunchtime I put on my knee support but it was of limited benefit.
Slanec was further from where I camped than I expected, taking me over two hours to reach the road leading into it. The E3 does not go through the village, diverting to the north of it. However my plan was to visit the village centre for some supplies and refreshments and rejoin the E3 by the castle ruins which stand over the town. With such thoughts I entered Slanec, picking up more water from the shop. Sadly the cukráreň was closed, despite it being advertised as open, so I missed my hoped for coffee and cake. Then I climbed up to Slanec castle.
The castle dated from the 13th century and was built on a steep sided hill. Despite its defensive position it fell and was abandoned in the 17th century, only a wall and a tower remain. Rusty scaffolding encased the section of wall.
Most of my walk today was on forestry roads, either gravel or tarmac. A few sections diverted onto paths. These were often overgrown with beech saplings and nettles, or blocked by fallen trees, so eventually I chose the tarmac if the opportunity allowed. Among the chatter of the bird song, I frequently heard cuckoos calling. At one point I disturbed a deer which ran off. Being Saturday there were many cyclists out for a ride, free wheeling down the hills, and a few people out for a walk. A serious group carrying rucksacks passed me going in the opposite direction but did not stop to say "hello" or Ahoy.
I have passed a few signs saying Ťažba Dreva, which Google Translate told me meant "Wood felling". The rest of the sign I examined today with Google said entry was prohibited. At that point I had already passed through the area. No wood felling was a taking place, although there were stacks of logs and an old machine used to drag tree trunks down to the road. There are not as many flowers on the wayside as I might have expected, although there were areas of white flowers which my App identified as coralroot bittercress. I have passed occasional crucifixes, often mass produced affairs. One today had a candle in a red glass candle holder. I was surprised it had been lit in a fairly remote location.
Later in my trip I planed to collect water from springs. I had waymarked their locations on my gps and checked the ones on my route today. Sadly at the first, close to Slanec, only an occasional drip came from the pipe which collected the spring water. Later in the day I stopped at a second spring which was also failing to deliver any water. This had implications, if I could not obtain water from springs later in my trip, lengthy diversions to villages lower down the wooded mountains would be necessary.
Tonight I am again wild camping but I have not reached the area I had planned to stop. I was too ambitious in my planning, underestimating the mileage. My various failings are also slowing me down. So tomorrow I have booked a house to stay in at a village I am passing.
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