I ain’t no meteorologist but there’s a storm in them there hills!
I packed up and left camp by 7:30 am to beat this afternoon’s thunderstorm. And I would have got away with it too if it wasn’t for those meddling tempeh wraps!
Feeling quite cocky, I thought I had time to break for lunch
A biblical rain crashed down when I was just 15 minutes from my destination. As the storm clouds rolled in they brought ear-splitting thunder and lightning close enough to spark concern. I crossed under an overpass by sheer luck just as the storm started. Another cyclist and I took refuge there for about 20 minutes until the storm passed.
I was riding hard to reach my destination before the next storm clouds could catch up to me. But who did I run into in Donauwörth? None other than my friend Miguel! I gave him a ribbing over his claim the night before that he would blow past Donauwörth today then I headed straight for my dry room after we said our goodbyes.
It feels great to take a day off from camping and to have a dry place where I don’t have to worry about lightning strikes.
If this is Weissbier Hell then I don’t want to go to Heaven
Oh, and anyone who says France has the best-baked goods hasn’t been to Bavaria.
It stormed all night last night – lightning and everything. I felt like a bit of a moron in an open field next to a tree with my steel bicycle propped up a few feet away. But I survived.
Back on the road
What did almost killed me though was the snoring from a tent that was over 20 meters away. One collapsed windpipe was all it took. How has evolution not taken care of snoring yet? The fact that women endure snoring like this is beyond me. (I’m sorry Abby, but if you ever start snoring like this man did we are going to have serious problems).
Anyone who says EuroVelo 6 is flat is lying
I was relieved to be woken up though. I was in the middle of an unsettling dream about my friend, Khalil, who died suddenly when we were in college. This dream stuck with me throughout today’s ride. I spent a lot of time reminiscing about some of the fun nights that Khalil, Will, Andrew, Bri, Jourdan, our other friends, and I shared in which Khalil’s antics led to crazy stories. Like that time we ran for our lives from a Papa John’s delivery driver…
Aside from the good memories, I kept coming back to just how strange it is to miss a friend who died at such a young age (19). Khalil is stuck in time in a way, yet when I think about him I often imagine he’s aged too. For me, one of the hardest things about Khalil’s death is that I don’t just miss who he was, there’s also a deep sense of loss over not getting to meet who he would have become. Anyways, it was special to have this time alone to remember and to think about my friend.
For lack of a better transition, I’m writing this entry in my journal at a cafe where I’m stopped for a pastry, sandwich, and coffee after a wrong turn that took me a couple kilometers off route. This pastry is incredible. Shaped like a German pretzel but with a sugar glaze.
Yum
I found a campsite in Ulm right along the river that is centrally located. You should stay here. It is 10eur and within walking distance of Ulm’s city center. It’s called Canoe Club Camping.
This rider was a little green behind the ears but seemed to be doing ok
In Ulm, there is a great hemp restaurant called Hemperium. They have hemp spaetzle, hemp beer and lots of vegan options. The dish with lentils, vegan sausage, and hemp spaetzle is delectable and filling.
Wash it down with a couple of Hanf Lagers and now we’re talking. The hemp beer smells like fresh cannabis but tastes like a refreshing brewski. It’s a surprisingly pleasant combo.
Ok, back to camp. There are few things better than a tasty filling meal, a good beer, and the knowledge that camp is already set up!
