On the German autobahn, I had not only time to push the car close to its top speed but also to think about what the lowest point in Czechia might look like. I honestly had no expectations heading there. I had just visited the westernmost point of Czechia, and the not-so-vibrant colours of early December weren’t doing any justice to anything.
The schedule was so tight that my lunch consisted of Kinder bars, as it had many times before. That wasn’t healthy, and neither was my driving style for the car. I tried to keep myself within the recommended speed limit of 130 km/h but ended up racing fellow motorists. You wouldn’t believe this coming out of my mouth, but I’m usually happy to get off the autobahn. It’s too hectic.
Once I made it south of Dresden, I finally left the motorway, and on the way towards Czechia everything became slightly more interesting. The road dropped into the Elbe valley, and the scenery was quite something, at least compared to the endless stretches of autobahn I had just endured.
As the lowest point of Czechia lies just after the border, I decided it would be best to leave the car on the German side and continue on foot, trying to find a spot where I could reach the riverbank.
There were official parking spots with a fee, and then there was my parking. I simply left the car in a spot that was apparently meant for residents of Schmilka. Since the signs weren’t vehicle-specific and there were plenty of spaces free, I dumped the car there and continued walking.
The border crossing was supervised by a single German police van, but they didn’t seem bothered with controlling vehicles that day. I continued towards the Czech town of Hřensko with a mission to find some kind of path down from the road to the river. Before long, I found an area with stairs leading straight to the water, likely intended for boats dropping off passengers. It felt far too easy to count.
Next to it, however, were older steps that had clearly seen better days. They were covered with leaves and debris, making it difficult to keep my balance, especially with everything being wet. After some careful maneuvering, I found myself on a faint path that others before me had clearly used. It was mostly overgrown and littered with scrap, among other things, an abandoned car tire.
If I’m completely honest, reaching the lowest point of Czechia at 115 meters above sea level didn’t feel as spectacular as it perhaps should have. The weather was grey, I was watching my steps to avoid falling into the river or onto sharp debris, and the view at this particular spot wasn’t nearly as impressive as what the surrounding area had to offer. With those thoughts in mind, I carefully climbed back up. I didn’t fall, even though it was close, and I managed to avoid turning a minor slip into something worse.
Back on the road, I walked past the sleepy police van and discovered that my car was still where I had left it. No towing, no fine. I was free to move on.
The next challenge was already waiting, reaching the northernmost point of Czechia before sunset.