Near Utrecht (Netherlands) - Munich (Germany)
As I left the liberal, progressive and somewhat conservative Dutch behind and entered Deutschland along the mighty Rhine, all the classic German stereotypes came sharply into focus. All around me industrious things were happening efficiently, and they continued to due so every one of the 500km down the Rhine until I reached Frankfurt. Freight trains trundled constantly along either side while hundreds of ships slowly chugged up and down the mighty river.
Mental and emotional deliberations were still consuming plenty of my thoughts as I ploughed on through the fairly monotonous plains on the lower reaches of the Rhine, thankfully the benefits of journal writing were proving a worthy saviour.
Mental and emotional deliberations were still consuming plenty of my thoughts as I ploughed on through the fairly monotonous plains on the lower reaches of the Rhine, thankfully the benefits of journal writing were proving a worthy saviour.
But as an 80+ yr old german cyclist escorted me into Cologne with tales of three hundred thousand kilometres of riding around the world and the plains gave way to steep gorges, I found myself letting go and starting to enjoy my new place in the world. So as windy, cold and hard as they were, I relished the remaining couple of hundred kilometres up the river into Frankfurt.
Frankfurt was mainly spent finishing up some work but in between the were was plenty good traveller chat in the hostel and amusement to be had watching the junkies in the main street in the city squabbling with each other - Frankfurt has taken the rather enviable approach of not shunting it's junkies, but rather looking after them with safe needle rooms, etc. right in the middle of town, and to my mind thus providing light hearted alternative entertainment for tourists.
From there it was off to see an old friend Dani, her cool hedgehog Fred and a quick 220km/hr blast along an autobahn, before heading south to a last bit of work at another family friend, Maria, who kindly looked after me so well for a whole week.
From there it was off to see an old friend Dani, her cool hedgehog Fred and a quick 220km/hr blast along an autobahn, before heading south to a last bit of work at another family friend, Maria, who kindly looked after me so well for a whole week.
As I headed East to Munich I could start to feel the pull of the mountains although my immediate reality was dampened somewhat by a battering of rain. The gale force storm I found myself in did however make for a fitting atmosphere to visit the Dachau Concentration camp outside Munich, the first of the many horrific such camps the Nazi's built during their 'tenure'.
The grand city of Munchen then beckoned and as it proclaims to be the home of beer (which I would strongly dispute!) I nevertheless took it up on its claim with a bunch of Yanky youngsters who weren't quite sure what to make of this bearded old guy, but nonetheless there many Prosts with the pretty decent Bavarian brews.
The grand city of Munchen then beckoned and as it proclaims to be the home of beer (which I would strongly dispute!) I nevertheless took it up on its claim with a bunch of Yanky youngsters who weren't quite sure what to make of this bearded old guy, but nonetheless there many Prosts with the pretty decent Bavarian brews.
With that it was time for a long awaited awesome mission starting a day's ride due south of the Bavarian capital - bring on The Alps!