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Day 5 Monday – 10^th August – Silly hat night

Monday’s weather was again brilliant. Steve and I felt a bit knackered due to lack of sleep. What we didn’t know was that Mick talked and made other noises in his sleep. During the night we had woken to the usual sound of snoring etc. but last night it had been overlaid with the sound of a small puppy snuffling and mewling – only for a short time, but long enough to keep you awake wondering what it was.

During the morning there was a ride out to a local Chateau "Hluboka" about 25 miles away.

After filling with fuel we took off and had very soon arrived in the small village at the foot of the Chateau.

After securing the bikes in a small square in front of a large church we climbed the steep winding road to the Chateau.

It is one of the most impressive buildings from the outside, built of white stone with high castellated towers and a tall glass conservatory housing statues, armour etc. surrounded by a most beautiful garden.

We joined the tour and were stunned by the inside of the building in which every room was richly panelled with intricately carved woodwork.

We learnt that the Chateau had been owned by a number of powerful families including the famous S chwartzenbergs, and had been used as a hunting lodge.

I concluded that this was the most impressive castle I have ever seen.

Leaving the Chateau, we all went to a small restaurant in the village for an excellent traditional lunch of roast pork, sauerkraut and dumplings.

The czech people love dumplings which they bake in tins and then cut into slices. They are often used in a meal in place of potatoes or rice, and are absolutely delicious.

Dumplings containing fruit are often served as a dessert.

Another speciality is apple strudel, however it varies in quality from restaurant to restaurant.

We returned to the village square where the Czech lads were doing burn-outs and wheelies on a racing bike, much to the delight of the local people.

Not wanting to stay for a visit to the local swimming pool, a small party of us headed back to Trebon, after all we had work to do as tonight was "silly hat" night in the camp bar area organised by Lorraine and we hadn’t brought any hats except Anne & Nick.

I improvised Arab headgear with a pillowcase and a pair of motorbike goggles.

Following a freezing cold shower we arrived at the bar at about 7.00 and I queued up to buy a round. More of the party arrived in dribs and drabs so I ordered more "Pivo" until the round became 30 pints. During the course of the night, the rounds went up to 35 pints at a time and they were all just put on the table for people to help themselves when they ran out. The rock and roll music was now in full swing.

By this time Lorraine had got her face painting kit out and Tigers, Mrs Mop’s and black eyes begun to appear in the party.

Ken (Elvis) started dancing with some of the local Czech girls and before we knew it everyone in the bar area was bopping, laughing and drinking.

The glasses had run out some time ago so we were being served with waxed paper pint cartons of which an enormous wall of empties had begun to take shape.

The Czech lads proposed a traditional toast which we mimicked before solemnly drinking, and we taught them the traditional British toast of "up yours" in which they joined us in an equally solemn manner. As Otto passed by, they all wished him "up yours", to much amusement.

Clad in a Union Jack and top hat, Otto took to the table to thank the Czech people for a wonderful evening on behalf of the Virago Owners Club amid much applause and cheering.