This will be the last post from Karlsruhe as I head home tomorrow. Last Saturday I decided to go for a longer ride to a place called Freudenstadt. One of the knowledable receceptionists here (Herr Wolber) told me that it has the biggest marketplace in the world. Given it was going to be a 170km ride it was a bit tough that the temeperature was 32 degrees although I escaped a bit of that by getting away at 0800. The outward journey passed reasonably uneventfully with a steady climb of 1000m spread over the last 40 kms. The marketplace was indeed large.
After admiring the large market place I set off on what is essentially a 40km downhill. During this time I became completely deluded and believed I could actually cycle fast as the speedo was in the high thirties most of the way!! During one steeper bit I was buried in a pack of motorbikes. The roads here are just perfect for bikers.
As I reached a place called Gernsbach another rider joined me and asked where I was headed. The next question was "Vair are you from?" Obviously, I need more German lessons. This chap then offered to guide me through a slightly confusing built up area. He'd obviously heard of the 'foreigner found in a tunnel on bike' episode.
Before I could make my escape he isisted I come back to his place for a coffee as apparently his wife was used to him bringing home stray cyclists. Sounded safe enough. Lovely people, very friendly, he told me he was a GP then his wife told me that he brought home a Danish girl who stayed in the basement for two weeks. I quickly checked that I was not sitting on plastic sheeting, excused myself and left. The next ride will be Dyers Pass Road :-)
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