A correction or two. I should not have said I am waaay ahead of schedule. I don’t have a schedule! I’m just making significant progress. I don’t plan to keep up the 140km days though. And the riding is going to get a little more challenging for the next several days. Hills are coming.
Speaking of significant progress, this morning I met George. George is from Texas and says he just left the navy after 8 years so is riding Amsterdam to Istanbul and then next spring hiking the Appalachian trail. He must be late 20s. Nice guy. It took him 3 weeks to ride the same as I did in 1. This generation!?
The rain started at 4 AM. Consequently I did not emerge from the tent until 8:30 when it chilled out a bit. This is about an hour later than usual. Rode for an hour and a half to second breakfast.
Then things went south. It started pouring (again) for a good hour at least. The lovely trail became less and less lovely. I got turned around and Google maps was barking nonsensical and contradictory instructions in my ear. Couldn’t look at the map on my phone because phones are useless when wet. Yada yada yada. My mood went as dark as the rogue freaking storm clouds that rain on me hourly and have no intention of clearing up. Grrrr
Obviously few people want tons of rain on a holiday, especially an outdoor one. But when I’m riding and it’s raining it’s not so bad. Still, it is getting to me. It’s makes everything a little more difficult and a lot more messy.
In Bamberg I decided it was time for an actual restaurant.
Afternoon ride was mostly dry and completely uneventful. So uneventful I didn’t take a single picture of a place today. Instead I present you with a sign.
In Germany the norm is to ride bikes on the sidewalk. This is very difficult to get used to when it is seriously taboo at home. In some larger cities there are differently colored bricks for walking on and riding on. But sometimes it’s not clear at all where you should be riding. Fortunately drivers are pretty patient and extremely safe. They won’t pass you if they don’t a solid 10 feet or so.
What turned my mood around is my campsite tonight. I have my very own SPOT. Immediately on the river. With power and WiFi right here. The lap of luxury I’m telling you.
Well that and this picture Karen sent me of one of the other ladies in my life.
Well, it’s great that it ended nicely- what a great spot on the river. And, I’m sure the cats miss you.
I love these updates.
Send that rain to AZ. We are in desperate need. Az finally had its 110 temp end after 31 days. We have a 2 day reprieve and then it’s right back up. It’s amazing the people you meet, taking long trips. Enjoy your camping spot.
The eventful day in your writing is an ongoing novel of unpredictable weather and people.
Great writing.
Is that a chair? Are you carrying a chair? Are you sure you’re not riding the cargo bike? 🙂
Yessir. I think you were so busy laughing at the prospect of solar panels in the rain you missed the chair reference my friend
“This generation?!” made me . You are a force unto yourself.
Glad the gods of rain and bad google maps instructions gifted you a nice campsite.
Loved that you are outpedaling a 20 something. If you stay in touch with this guy and he does attempt the AT put him in touch with me. I’ve done most of Maine except for the “100 mile wilderness.” Doesn’t that sound scary? And, as you know, the trail ends in Maine.
Hated all the rain reports and I didn’t even have to ride in it. Had a nice 8 mile ride today, mostly along the ocean…..no rain.
Glad you finally have a nice campsite.
Sorry, that sausage looked discusting. I like the ice cream pictures better.
Hope you have more sunny days, especially if the riding gets hillier.
We are looking forward to Karen and Lorie’s visit, which might not have happened if you weren’t on your trip. Or, maybe you would be coming too if you weren’t on this grand adventure.
Thanks for keeping up with the blog. Might be tough when you are tired, wet, and hungry.
One of these years I’ll make it out there! And those sausages were good. Really good.
This is the last blog post I see in my email.
Was it my comment about the sausages?
Can you link us back up or do I have to do something.
Hope you’re not having as much rain as we are.
Hi Chad,
We have been enjoying your travel blog. Places, photos, diverse ages of the kind people you meet, food and weather.
Not many burritos this year.
We have had illuminating light shows with the storms around here, these past days and nights.
Hope you have sunny days ahead.
Cheers,
MZ
Before you left I signed up for some Europe cycling forums (so this is where your people hang out), and it seems that the rain is a big topic for many cyclists right now in your part of the world. Often the issue is….to keep going or pack it in. Some good advice about taking a few days in a warm hotel to dry out and get cosy, check out the cities, fortify with hearty food. I know you’re hardcore, but this sounds damn good to me. Although, your campsite looks really lovely by the river, I can see why you keep keepin’ on.