Honey I think I forgot something

So finally the day has arrived. After many many training sessions, during the cold season we are finally ready to ride. Everything is packed and mounted on our bikes and the trailer. This was another crucial moment as I had in mind how it should be fixed on the bikes, but since weather and time never allowed to ride with full equipment before I was happy to see that everything found its place and yes we were heavily loaded but it did not seemed to be overloaded.

So after the obligatory pictures we set our track to Krauchenwies. Really nothing special about our target for the first stage, it was simply in the middle on our route towards Lake Constance. And there was a campground next to a lake which offered camping huts which seemed perfect for us, as the temperatures for the night were forecasted to be quite cool.

Since we started from our door steps we started pedaling on known grounds for the first half of the stage including climbing 350m on to the Schwäbische Alb. For me this uphill was also the last and final check if we can make it, since this was a few kilometers uphill and the only like that before the alps. So if we can make this one we can basically climb all passes since they will be longer but not steeper.

So after 90 minutes on bike paths we reached the and going up Anja took the lead, uphill she’s just way faster than I am of course due to the difference in weight of us and the luggage, but she is also simply very strong uphill. Going uphill for me is always a bit meditating it is just the mountain the bike and me, no need to focus much on the road besides holding the lane and so just keep pedaling strong. Time to let thoughts fly and reflect, how everything is going…. Legs are felling great… We are doing well… on time and track… weather okay…. do I have everything with me on the backlist – yup everything there…. going through the essentials that I have always with me, Keys?… Yes only the one for the trailer and house, in the backpack!… Phone? Yup right side in my backpack! Wallet?… hm… Where have I put my wallet? Hmmmmmm? Easy thoughts over for me… So once I arrived uphill and caught up with Anja who was waiting form me I stopped. This raised some questioning looks whether I’d already need a brake (did I mention that she is tough?)… And I had to mention that I might have forgot something. So I checked no wallet anywhere – very angry look. Next thought, do I need it? Anja has a credit card, too that goes on our common bank account, also debit cards, so we should be okay, but what about my documents? We are going to cross borders and also plan to take ferries. Ok ok, nothing to do about it we have to get it somehow. Options: Going 90 minutes back and then forth again adding 60kms to the route, no good idea. The neighbour to take care of our flat? Not in town today. So in the end we decided to finish the stage an then I would go back by train, get the wallet and return buy taxi, not the cheapest, but still the most convenient solution. Anja and Anouk would have a safe shelter with playground and for it would still be a quick solution.

The second half of the stage besides the downturn of knowing that we would have to return was then really nice, everytime I cross the “schwäbische Alb I am surprised how beautiful this rough place can be – beware: you can find snow there end of April while 15km away everything is already in bloom, and following a stream and valley is mandatory, otherwise the constant uphills and downhills can turn a nice bike ride into a world of pain. But we followed a really nice valley and bike path towards Sigmaringen into the valley of the Danube river which we crossed and we had to go out of the valley and finished the last 10kms.

So after nearly 90 kms we arrived at the Seencamping in Krauchenwies where we rented a camping barrel (a wooden hut with heater and a place to sit and sleep inside). Anja and Anouk made themselves comfortable as best as they could while I got back on my to go to the train station and back home to get my wallet.

4 hours later I was back (with wallet) and we had a nice evening and looking forward to the next stage and this being away and on the road for real.