Setting off on foot directly from the city and reaching wild nature by the river sounds like a great outdoor challenge. That’s exactly how my plan for a demanding one-day dogtrekking trip from Prague came about. According to the navigation, a fantastic route of 50.6 kilometers awaited us, with an estimated walking time of over 11 hours. Together with my female dog Brixie, we packed our backpacks and set off to test our physical condition.
Morning Start from Chodov and an Asphalt Beginning
However, the start of the day didn’t go entirely as planned, as my sleep was once again terrible. I’m no longer entirely sure what to do to get a good night’s sleep and recharge my batteries. So, I get up tired before 5:30 AM, toss and turn in bed for a while, and finally get up for good. I quickly put on my outdoor gear and take the dogs out for their morning walk to catch the cool morning air.
Afterwards, I give them a quick breakfast, with Brixie only getting a limited amount of kibble for preventative reasons. Then, I rapidly finish the last few preparations, and precisely at 07:17, I turn on my Garmin watch. This moment officially marks the start of our dogtrekking trip from Prague today, specifically from Chodov. Although we start in the forest, we soon find ourselves on rather uninspiring asphalt as we pass through Kunratice, Vestec, and Jesenice. Fortunately, the situation improves when we leave the last houses in Psáry, and the grey concrete gives way to a forest path.
Through Wild Nature and Refreshment in the Sázava River
Suddenly, we find ourselves in a completely different world – it’s amazing! We walk along beautiful forest paths all the way to Žampach, and then we’re standing by the roaring Sázava River. Brixie doesn’t hesitate and joyfully jumps straight into the water to cool off. From there, we continue on a stunning route directly along the riverbank to Kamenný Újezd. I take a short break at the local general store and buy a refreshing Birell, some cheese, and tasty treats for Brixie.
Good food and regular energy replenishment are crucial for us, something we’ve confirmed on our previous trips and dogtreks, where kilometers in nature rack up just as quickly. Right after, we cross a bridge and follow the official Sázava Trail straight towards Petrov u Prahy. Following the river’s course offers fantastic views that instantly fill you with positive energy, and the walk in nature flies by.
An Unplanned Stop in Petrov and a Train Ride Home
Although I originally planned to walk all the way through Davle to our final destination in Vrané nad Vltavou, plans can sometimes change during dogtrekking. During a well-deserved break with a cola by the Sázava in Petrov, I fortunately notice something unpleasant. My dog Brixie has her front pawpits badly chafed and bruised from the harness straps.
Thinking about it, the cause was likely an unfortunate combination of her jumping into the Sázava at the start of the route, the skin getting quickly irritated under the wet harness with constant movement, and unfortunately, the harness not being perfectly adjusted from home.
By this point, we’ve covered an impressive 40 kilometers, so at 3:45 PM, we call it a day here. My four-legged companion’s health is always my absolute priority, so I’m not willing to risk further injury. I immediately buy a train ticket on my mobile app for the 4:42 PM departure and we wait at the station for our ride home. On the train seats, Brixie and I rest contentedly, because even though it ended early, the whole experience was simply great.
Today’s dogtrekking from Prague has once again taught me that one must react flexibly to the situation and listen to their dog’s needs. Even though we didn’t reach our originally planned destination, I’m taking away a ton of great memories and a valuable lesson about thoroughly checking gear when wet. Next time, I definitely won’t make any mistakes with harness adjustments!
How do you handle unexpected complications on long routes? Can you call off a planned destination in time when it comes to your furry friend’s comfort?
Day’s Summary
- Kilometers Today: 40 km
- Highlight of the Day: The beautiful transition from urban sprawl to the wild nature of Posázaví, ending with a relaxing train ride.
- Interesting Encounters: My loyal companion, Brixie.
