Day 20: Extra Special Delivery

Budapest to Dunaujvaros (75km)

Kayaking through Budapest was amazing, the city engulfs the river, the banks are lined with incredible and historical structures, almost all of the city’s main buildings are visible from the river and kayaking through was a joy. It was also the first place that I’ve kayaked through where I’ve known a little about the place, this was due to the two very enjoyable days I’d spent with mum and Amy.

I only planned to spend one day in Budapest with my special delivery women, but I was enjoying their company and the city so much that I decided to stay an extra one (also it rained so much on the first day that it was impossible to know which city we were actually in). We covered a lot, we did the bus tour, we visited the castle, the shoes on the river memorial, the synagogue, the cathedral to Saint Stephen (this is the same St Stephen who has a holiday named after him which caused me to miss dinner on day 19), we walked round the parliament building, which in my opinion is one of the most impressive buildings in the world and many more. We also ate extremely well, by the time the two days had whizzed by, I was feeling good and ready to get back on the river. Thanks again to my guests, not just for the passport, but for the perfect company as well.

The current through Budapest is quite strong, shortly after waving goodbye to the girls, I was waving goodbye to Budapest (metaphorically, I don’t tend to wave goodbye to places, even if I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them). The outskirts of Budapest are quite industrial, the beauty of the city was soon gone and the rest of the morning and early afternoon passed with blissful forgetfulness.

My aim for the day was the town of Dunaujvaros, which I had read wasn’t the nicest town, but it had a campsite right by the river and the distance for the day was ideal. About 15km out from the town, I decided to take a stream that ventured away from the main Danube and re-joined just before the campsite. It turned out to be a great decision, the alternative route was beautiful, it was narrow and the reflections of the neighbouring trees glistened off the water in the late afternoon sun.

The campsite was quiet, it was just me and one other camper. As I was setting up my tent, he wandered over to talk to me. He very politely told me that he was leaving the campsite ‘because he thought he would be alone’. He was so nice about that I almost apologized for my existence at the camp, but after he gave me a couple of beers, a warning about Serbians and a firm handshake, he was off. I was running low on supplies, so was forced to make the 4km round trip to the supermarket. As promised, the town was nothing special and without an extraordinary good reason, I will not be returning again. Good to get the distance done today, it is sometimes a little difficult to refocus mentally after a break. Refueled and re-energized after Budapest, I’m feeling good and ready to take on whatever this river can throw at me.