Sunday: grounded

Peter woke with an inflamed eye so we had to stay another night at the hotel.

Saturday: first day

After a good breakfast at the campsite (€ 5.50) we set off into a glorious morning.

The first two serious climbs again proved how cool an e-bike is. With all the baggage those would habe been VERY cruel. They were still steep and had us panting but we could still enjoy the beautiful landscape.

Bought grilled Thuringia sausages and rolls that we ate near Eishausen at a perfect resting spot in the woods at a memorial for the dead of the two great wars.

The afternoon soon got very hot - 33°C and we stayed for sorry breaks in shady spaces; eventually we dozed on two benches at the plaza in Bad Colberg - quite a nice small town.

We ended up in Bad Königshofen , racing the thunderstorm that was threatening during the afternoon and choose to pick a hotel for the night.

Friday: the start

We set of from home in the morning to spend most of the day in regional trains to Cohurg (Bavaria)
Wer saw stations with elevators out of order enjoying the simple life where you have to push your loaded bike up the stairs. It's a pity to see! Fop us it was only a nuisance. But imagine somebody in a wheelchair!

Anyway, once we left the train we hit the task. Not far, just a few km to get going.

In Theuern we camped at an amazing site, had good dinner and a nice breakfast the next morning.

The new tent was ok but it is very low and even yours truly can hardly sit up. Yet it is quick to erect and nice to spew away again.

40km
Sunny and warm

a bit of a packing-list

The basics remain the same, but we found a tent that is both lighter, smaller (packed) and at the same time more spacious when set up. Wow.

I returned to using an inflatable cushion to make room for the charging-unit.
and because we could not agree to have 2 bikes with the same battery, there will be a charger EACH. Talk about high-tech...
A warmer sleeping-bag (down to 10°C, last time it was a tad cold at two nights)
wet-wipes and a small shovel from gardening will be a nice addition to the toilet-paper
no kettle but a pot with lid, will serve as plates, too. (Pot stores teabags, gas-burner, foldable cups, detergent and a small washcloth)
no milk-powder, coffee-grounds and drip - tea-bags will do.

not only canned sausage and bread will be on board, some instant-noodles as well because we read of several travellers who found zilch food for dinner.

Bike lamps as dual-use-goods: off-label stablights
Flip-flops
heavy-duty knock-em-stiff bike-locks
1 pair of warm socks
1 warm sweater

The backpack that holds the water-bladder will be a larger one to accommodate the noodles :) Since I would be carrying one anyway, i decided for my  daily commute-backpack.

Preparations - Next journey

Quite a lot has happened since the last vacation:
During the last night of the last vacation a professional gang of thieves raided our campground. Our beloved bycicles got STOLEN.

At the Police-Station we learned that we were by far not the only ones. Our neighbours had their car broken and all payments (cash, Cards) stolen. That's tough.

Consequence was that we both needed ne bicycles.

 A long period of research and testing followed and we ended up with two eMTBs.

Admittedly, I had never wanted an ebike because I wanted to do the climbing. My brother-in-law changed my mind, because with the eMTB you can simply do MORE climbing without feeling dead. I have converted and never regretted during the past 1500 km I did since October '16.


Now, the first journey awaits, in a fortnight we will be heading for the Iron Curtain Trail, aka. Eurovelo 13 - German part.

It was only yesterday that the fever hit me. I WANNA GOOOOOO!

Rack-Mounting will happen today and some sample-packing...

The waiting is the worst!

Now we get cookin" - Bikers heaven

Today we drove a fantastic route with the motorbike.
Starting in Pont de Labeaume (department Ardeche) on N 102
take D5 to Jaujac. In Jaujac go right on D 19 through Souches and farther. Great views across the Rhone valley to Mont Ventoux and not a single meter of straight road. After the first pass just before a farm you turn sharp right onto D 239. Two more minor passes and you get back to N 102.
Turn right on N102 to return.

Stop in Thuyets, follow the signs to pont du diable (devils bridge) where there is a natural pool created by Ardeche river forcing its way through the rocks creating a narrow passage. Boy i should love to be there with some serious water coming through! talk about eddies ...
Anyway, take a dip there or follow the via ferrata including a tyrolienne.

8 more km and you're back at starting -point P. de Labeaume.

Dish of the day: lamb-stew with green beans and potatoes.

Bum hurts. Curse the motorbike.

Mood: chilled & filled

THE vacation

3 weeks vacation in France.
Boats & bikes will be loaded tomorrow and then off we go!
Still undecided where to go first but that's the beauty of a chilled tour with enough time: any place will be fine.

The parrots will enjoy the loving care of their sitter who leaves our minds at rest. All will be fine.

Let's go!