Day one

Started from my families home close to Tübingen in southern Germany. Two short visits at friends and on for the first night outdoors. Was quite late when  I started, so did not go that far.

Found a nice place to stay near Pforzheim at the Maibaumhütte in the forrest close to the Autobahn.

We have no ocean close by. This is our replacement: "The Autobahn", with it's constant noise just like crashing waves at shore. Wave after wave, never stopping. Even a few captains of big freight haulers sound their horns.We should hand out headphones to the creatures of the forrest - Carless days sound quite clever.

Day 2

From Pforzheim via Karlsruhe crossing the Rhein river into Pfalz region with Steinweiler as destination for the day.

Found a nursery outside the village with a small solar park. Behind it towards the fields and a forrest was a small path covered up by fir trees. Placed my tent under it - birds singing me to sleep, some boars having a snack in the grain field.

A sunny day, driving with the T-Shirt on. I feel quite tired, the first days are always hard. It is gonna be better day after day - I know that from the past so i'll just trust that.

I'm looking forward to seeing the mountain region of Pfalz.

Once in a while a lower gear would be nice. I'll keep an foot (eye) on that and if it needs changing i'll change it later.

Day 3

Journey day three, the Pfalz mountains are amazing, castles in the hills an rock formations peeking thru the forrest add to it.

Wine plantages and hills, it is steep. Legs are burning and it is highly enjoyable. 170 km to go to Trier.

The locals are very happy, nice and friendly. Was passed by one man riding his bike and he asked me if he could do me some good. Told him topping up my water bottles would be amazing. So he nodded made a uturn around me and asked me to follow him. Few streets further we went to his home - thanks buddy 💦

Day 4

I'm sitting here on a nice bench and table set under s small roof near the train station. Feels great as I had a nice shower just short before. Made a stop near a local training ground - heard a teacher finishing class. Thought there is a chance they have showers so walked over there and told a young female sports teacher about my journey and if there is a chance to use the showers real quick. She gave me a wink and said the next class will be in an hour - sneak in there. Gave the cleaning lady and janitor some coffee money afterwards - they have to do all the work and they have been so nice to look the other way as well.

Went through ravens ally as I like to call it. Old large trees covering an old road. Ravens living there, loads of them making a hitchcockian noise for every soul brave enough to enter their territory. Man they are loud, gave me a feeling how people connect them with making them insane. If they deside to live next to you, then you better have decent earplugs.

🌳🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🌳🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🌳🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🌳🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🌳🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🌳🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🌳🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🌳

Had my nights rest at a bus station with a narrow but long bench. With the daun sleeping bag it was very cosy and warm. Watched a episode of Sanctuary before falling to sleep - Busflix 🎥

Not as comfortable as my tent but my legs loved it - me too. Besides had a great view.

Rain for the first time, it poured down quite heavy for about two hours. Went into a pharmacy and had a nice chat with the people there - best spot to go in deep for a conversation about a sore bike bum 😁

While changing into my rain clothes a guy found me as prey for a desperate conversation he wanted to have: A chopped up finger - at first I thought he might be a carpenter. As it turned out he was mowing the lawn - Would have been best to turn off the mower before fixing it. His operation wen't very well as he demonstrated me by wiggling with all the 9,5 Fingers left.

Day 5

Not much to say here, quite some distance and height to cover through a beautiful landscape with two national parks Saar-Hunsrück and Hunsrück-Hochtal opening up to a hilly landscape where the mosel river carved its way through. Quite a sight to see when you pushed yourself up the hills and then a amazing downhill streak gratifies you while flying down the hill into the mosel valley near trier.

Trier, the romans called it portum romanum - gateway to rome. As usual with roman settlements well choosen: Water wine and landscape.

From there another ten kilometers into the forrest and up the hill. Tim and Jette, friends I wanted to visit are working on a community living project. You should check it out for yourself, it's amazing so see the mix of dreams, ideas, dedication and amongst it the belief that we can create something amazing as a group of people - a community.

In that case they are renovating an old villa deep in the forrest. Check it out: Projekt Kletterbaum - or how to create a little paradise that feels like a disney movie with birds and butterflys dancing around you in the forrest.

I've spent two nights there - a very good time I will remember for a while, despite how short it was.

Day 6-7

Two days to cross the Vulkaneifel on the road to cologne - about 140 km from Project Kletterbaum away. A beautiful and hilly landscape of vulcanic origin.

On the way I passed through the Ahr- Tal (Ahr valley), the place where one of the most violent floddings took place. Here are some pictures of the Ahr river about 15 km from where the destruction was at a maximum:

The Ahr River has risen 8.06 meters above its banks.

That litte stream made a big contribution to initiate a retinking process in Germanys thinking about global warming and its effects. Better late then never, sad thing that the damage for the people there is allready done.

Maybe think about if you got such a small stream near your home - the world is on fire...

Was listening all day long to TerraX podcasts. They topic things like global warming, decline in biodiversity or slavery in our modern times. Amazing content!

Here's the first episode:

At one point I just had to stop and let it sink in and calm down again - was getting a bit angry.

In cologne i'm staying at my sisters home for a few days and take the chance to celebrate my 41 birthday there. Something im happy to share with my little sister who managed to create a wonderful life for herself and her boyfriend there - love that she is happy and Chrissy and Marc are a great team.

Thank you both for the amazing birthday and wonderful time 🤗