#3 Finally flat, for now

I slowly got out of bed, took a shower again, got a coffee from the camping neighbor, and ate my can (ravioli) for breakfast. Finally, it was gone. That was really disgusting but filled the stomach.

I left at around 11 a.m. The route itself was beautiful, unfortunately, there were also some detours through forests. Still, the sight was wonderful. I also met so many smiling people, all of whom were greeted by me. But they would have greeted me too. Luckily my knee hurt less and I could feel my body getting used to driving. Still, I didn’t want to exaggerate. I wanted to go shopping as late as possible because that meant additional weight. So I rode through bike paths, grinning, waving, greetings, and through country lanes, sometimes I had to push, then chat a bit and then endure the great views. I’m really not talking nonsense, there really are so many beautiful places here in Germany. Whether history, art, or anything else, everything can be found here. Just get in the car and drive around for 1-2 weeks. Or bike 🙂

On the way, I spoke to a gentleman. He told me that he had a serious motorcycle accident and since then he has seen his life differently. He no longer works, although he earned very well. He enjoys his life and is happy to be alive. I told him about my journey and that I’d already won because I’d tried to make my dream come true. It doesn’t matter how far I get. He gave me a big bill for these sentences and I was speechless. Of course, I couldn’t accept it, but he insisted. It doesn’t hurt him anyway, but it certainly helps me, he said. I really had a strange feeling in my stomach, accepted it gratefully. A quality of mine says reject it. But if I put myself in his shoes and can make someone happy with something like that, then I should accept it. Of course, he was happy that I took it. We said goodbye and I drove on with a strange feeling. It was of course a kind of joy.
Now I thought about donating the money along the way, maybe to a children’s hospital, maybe something else. It won’t help them much, but they would always enjoy it a little. We’ll see if there’s a chance like that. But the whole thing gave me such a boost, all the pain was gone and I waved at almost everyone (what they must have thought :D).

On the way, I kept seeing forests covered with white flowers. Unfortunately, I don’t know what those were:

A spring-like that after a gray winter can be really great. But that’s just the beginning.

I was in Boxberg (or something like that) because there is only one shop here, otherwise, there is nothing to be found in the villages. I received a piece of the meadow for my tent from a farmer. Overall it was a great day. Also because the pain has lessened a bit and I am enjoying the ride more and more. Mainly because of the people who wish you all the best. So many tell me how much they would have loved to do something like this and I’m just at the beginning of this incredibly amazing journey.

The morning wasn’t great, despite the farmers’ coffee. Everything was damp and snails everywhere. Packed the wet tent and drove off listlessly.
When the sun was shining (and I was allowed to push again and again), I rested for about 45 minutes in the middle of the fields. I had breakfast there and let the sun dry the tent on the mountain.

Then it started again. Through small villages and with permanent ups and downs, as often stop. Quickly left me also the forces. Normally I make every 4 -5 days times 2 days break, but here I did not know where. There is no free Internet in Germany, where you could just couch surfer or a hostel to head. So bad network connections (or so) as in Germany I have never experienced in any European country.
Except for a few beautiful views I always pushed up, sometimes I drove down, then I had to brake in a curve. Almost all deserted dirt roads, sometimes a piece through the forest, then bike paths on the road. Not once someone came to meet me, so lonely it is here. Okay, I won’t mention the cars. My motivation was not exactly high and the forces left me faster than I could think.

 

Sometimes you have to take a few minutes break:

After an incredible 42 km and around 3 pm I gave up. In a village, I asked for a piece of meadow and was also found. It was just a meadow in a village, no idea who owns it, just a piece of meadow. I was looking forward to the morning when everything will be full of snails and totally soaked again, I thought. Besides, I heard that it is supposed to rain tomorrow. Well, sometimes you have to dig in the dirt if you want to find something. So wait for tomorrow.

Now I was sitting on the meadow, totally still. Sometimes you could hear a bark, sometimes a chicken. I ate my spaghetti with bolognese, bandaged my knees, and waited until the next day would dawn. I hoped to recover by morning. Nevertheless, the time passed quickly. I worried about a few things, such as “Will I be able to make it through this trip for long?” “What about homesickness, when will it become so strong that I have to fight it?” One thought I was able to conclude: Did I do everything right with this travel decision? Yes, definitely! No matter if I come home in 2 weeks as a body wreck and crying with homesickness, it was the right decision! I’m really glad to have made this decision, whether it fails or not, I’ve already won anyway.