Hungarian 
Our backpacks, tents and sleeping bags are packed, the bikes are saddled up and ready, and we head off into the Carpathian Mountains. Fortune is our guide, a thirst for adventure and pastures new are our supplies. Let‘s go!
Our playground for the next few days: The High Tatra Mountains in Slovakia, the smallest high mountain range in the world at just 50 km long and no more than 15 km wide. The landscape is wild and primal, the weather temperamental and erratic. We spent a lot of time tracking around in the fog and love every minute of it!
The High Tatras look rugged and forbidding. Many of them stand more than 6,500 feet high. They are home to rare species of plants and animals, like the Tatra chamois – the symbol of the region. If only we had their head for heights! And when it gets too rocky and exposed, the only thing to do is get off and throw the bikes onto our shoulders.
Our bikes are our loyal companions. Trustworthy to a fault, both on- and off-road. Sometimes we give them – and our legs – a break and jump on the train. Thankfully, we don‘t have to worry about our kit. We can keep our eyes on the great views.
We cross rushing streams, ride past thundering waterfalls, stately mountain summits and crystal-clear lakes. We ask hikers to recommend the best spots. And, when we are at a loss, we ask the locals: They make us very welcome, offer us shelter when the weather turns grey and wet. They tell us stories from bygone days, and their pointers can be found in no travel guide. We go where the wind takes us and enjoy the lack of organisation in contrast to the stress of everyday life. The here and now. That‘s what counts.
Just get out and ride – no maps, no expectations, no stress. Right or left at the crossroads? It‘s your choice. To simply stop somewhere if it‘s nice. To head out when new adventures are calling. It‘s a refreshing experience and one we definitely intend to repeat.
