DAY SIX: London to Auschwitz - in Mehren, Germany
The bnb last night was gorgeous with a wonderful bed. I slept really soundly but woke early and thought I may as well make some progress so was on the road at 7.30am. The legs were very stiff and never feel strong, but I've got used to that.
The start was super flat on lovely tarmac. For the first time at the end of a cyclepath I joined the road, but heading on the wrong side of the road. It was the first time it had got close to happening and a 'friendly' wave from a passing motorist sorted me out 🙂. I also used some farm tracks which resulted in mud accumulating under the mudguards (see pics).
I had a difficult decision to make in Bonn (big and very busy) - accommodation was expensive, there was a big climb looming and Airbnb's on the forthcoming route were rare. I also wasted an hour trying to find an Alfa Romeo garage which was no longer there (I'm an Alfa enthusiast) and sourcing some rope to improve the sleeping bag fixation.I made a decision at 4.30pm and knew I'd regret it: take the pain, climb the hill, and then just another 25km to bed. And then it started raining so it was a soggy climb, partly walking for 5km through a very pretty forest with steamed up glasses so I couldn't easily read the Garmin (GPS).
I arrived at a very basic apartment with no one to greet me and, most important, no WiFi!!! I didn't read the description carefully enough, but it was only £40 and would have accommodated four. Another 118km day, further than anticipated but one less hill to climb.
Even the power stations are picturesque in the sunshine, it's as flat as the fens.
Most of the tracks were drier than this!
But the mud accumulated everywhere and dragged progress back. Took 5 mins to clear out and then gunked up again. Cleared it out three times!
Aldi shopping, German style. There's a hefty load in that trailer, and not an e-bike.
Presumably a former windmill which is now a house in Risburg, on a hill overlooking Bonn
First view of the Rhine - it's a mighty river which flows very rapidly.
On the ferry
Many alpine style buildings round here - this is Eudenbach.
This hill 5km from bed was not welcome with almost 120km in my legs.
But there was a descent into Mehren where I stayed.