Day Twenty-Three

June 21, 2025

04/06/25 - Day Twenty Three

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes - this is what it’s all about. This is what we signed up for. This is what we love. Howayyyyyyyyyy the tour!

Woke at 7, Fabian (fella I met the night before) told me it was going to rain in 30/45 mins so I hurriedly packed everything away, to ensure everything but my tent was dry. Then joined him under the tree of shelter. He was putting the last of his kit away, and asked me “all ready?”. I suggested we ride to Ulm together, and so we set off together into the rain. Company, always makes the rain better. We cruised together to Ulm stopping at a couple of bike shops once there, me to get my rear crankset tightened, to look for a kickstand/mud guards, and Fabian to get some wet weather chain lube.

After a funny encounter with a bizarre bike mechanic at the second (commercial) shop (even Fabian agreed) we hit up the centre. After admiring yet another impressive gothic cathedral - shame about the extent of scaffolding - we hit a bakery, chatted and laughed a lot! A late breakfast but now we were fuelled for the day, and the difference in our natural speeds shows itself proper. After 6 miles we said farewell, as Fabian boosted ahead and off down the Donau. As I reflected on his departure, and popped my headphones in, I smiled to myself. It was nice to spend time with someone my age! And not just that: he was a good lad to boot!

I struggled through another 15 miles or so and then took a long needed break to reset. I had no rhythm, no flow, and was not enjoying myself. A meditate and scran sorted me out, and some nice ambient tunes in my ear set, off again. Energy renewed, I mashed at the pedals and made quick progress. I stocked up on food again, and to my delight a 'welcometomygarden' host had replied and only 17 miles away. The remaining miles were uneventful, except the last couple, where the lovely evening light nudged me over the finish line.

Upon arrival I chatted to Chris for a little while and he informed me of the imminent “extreme thunderstorm”. Bloody lovely! The sky had started looking very dark and menacing right on cue, so I again hurriedly sorted out my camp. It grew darker, windier, and more evil. With everything set I chanced a quite cold shower at his outdoor shower head. The wind began to howl and the sky was grim. Almost losing my towel, I cut the shower short and ran for shelter. Chris’ mate had already evacuated in his car, when Chris put down 4 beers and a jar of the weed next to me. After thanking him kindly and grabbing 2 of the beers ran to my tent. It proceeded to blow a f*cking hoolie! My mind imagining the worst, I was apprehensive to say the least, but my wishes of a few days ago had been answered. The exhilaration was palpable, as a finished drying off after my shower, cracked a beer, and put on my waterproofs incase I had to dash for the barn. The feeling of being all cosy in a tent when the storm rages outside, is quite unlike any other! I grinned in anxious euphoria! A special moment - no doubt about it.

I write this marvelling at the engineering of this tent. Properly tensioned and set up - without guy ropes - it’s incredibly strong. Granted the storm was brief and winds were not super high, but amazing nonetheless! Maybe the beer is going to my head or maybe I’m on to something, you can never quite be sure these days. Having said that though, beer in general - and especially after a long day of a physically demanding nature - might be possibly the best thing in the entire world. No, that’s nonsense, the universe. The ramblings of a half cut Brit in a storm, maybe? more likely I’m tapping into the divine right now, who knows? All I know is that I love the prince and I love the pals, I love all my friends, I love all my family. Now, more than ever, I will not go gently into that goodnight…