Easy day. Best breakfast buffet at a hotel this entire trip. I struggled to wake up and I am writing this on the verge of falling asleep.
I went to a couple different bike shops before I found someone with a M8x1.25 bolt (he even hacksawed it off to the right length) and a standard M5 that had fallen of my left front rack. The exchange was very…German. The job was done quickly and efficiently. When I asked him how much, he shrugged and said, “How much is an old bolt?” I gave him €5.
With everything secured and working I set out. It was the most direct path in a long time. I really don’t even recall turning. I decided to split the trip to Hamburg up into two days to get a bit of active recovery in.
Lots of farm fields. I’ve learned almost all of my vegetables and fruits in German purely from roadside stands.
I passed a lot of things that reminded me of home including signs on farmland about some political statement, clear cut forests, and a sign describing why tractors have the right of way.
I got a room in Neunekirchener for $42 including breakfast. When I arrived no one was around so I got an ice cream next door. The server was Argentinian and we chatted for a bit. The hotel Neunekirchener Hof was also a restaurant that opened at 6 PM so I waited for it to open on a nearby church bench.
When they opened I got settled through a lot of really bad German. Their bike storage was a crappy outside rack in an unprotected, but hidden interior courtyard. I didn’t put up a fuss as I was tired. It was also a village so highly unlikely of any issues.
I showered however the bathroom looked immediately on to the biergarten with no blides. I didn’t know how far the German sensibility went. [later revision: there were blinds, I’m just incapable].
Dinner was steak and potatoes. When she asked if I liked it I told her no. The sarcasm did not translate across cultures. I rescinded my statement and said I was confused. Payment, like every food establishment so far was in cash.
I sulked off to my room.
The plan for tomorrow is Hamburg. I’m probably going to hostel it for a couple days. After that I’ll make my way to Denmark which I expect will be around Friday. I haven’t decided how direct to Copenhagen I intend to go yet. There are a lot of free shelters in Denmark I’d like to try out if I can figure out how they work.