Woke up in the middle of Paul’s living room as his family headed off to school and work. I was fed and showered and sat on the computer for a bit (as has become my morning ritual). Normally I am off pedaling before 9am but today we went to visit Paul’s mom who lived down the street. Interestingly Paul drove us over in a big ol’ American Ram pickup truck that has been converted to run on LPG petrol. I guess that is about 1/2 the price of normal gas in the Netherlands but still produces full power for the truck. It felt very American of us to make this short drive rather than ride our bicycles but it was a good choice as the sky suddenly opened up and rain came pounding down. 

We sat on his mom’s covered patio and listened to rain hammer the plastic awning. I love a good patio/ courtyard and both Paul and mom’s house had very comfortable ones (Bart’s had one too). So on my quest for a new home I think I will add a nice patio to my list of ideal attributes along with being close to a grocery store and not needing to own a car. Bart showed up soon after and we had some coffee. I drank a small and rare-for-me cup and learned that I had been served on the special guest plate which I think is more of a test to see if you belong than anything else. Next time I’ll get a mug I’m promised! It was delightful to watch the two brothers laughing and joking with their mom.  The conversations slipped in and out of English but I could easily understand that this was a loving family

Bart decided to do part of the ride with me and rain had let up so we started pedaling. We talked about BMX and life as we rode and the miles flew by.  Bart was good company on the road. Around 30km in we stopped for lunch at a trail side picnic table. After our snack Bart turned for home. I kept pedaling and noticed the bike lanes weren’t quite as nice as they had been. I was in Germany. The bike lanes were a million times better than the ones in the USA of course, but not quite up to the Netherlands quality. 

I stressed this moment to myself again, I was in Germany! It still feels like I have pedaled here from outside of Detroit. I know there have been some trains and boats in between (one boat was 7 days long) but it still feels like I rode my bike here. 

I rolled into Dusseldorf feeling more tired than I expected. There had been a fair bit of wind on the road and it added some effort to what was otherwise a flat and comfortable ride. This hotel was hosting the Invictus Games athletes (that must be happening nearby) and it was crawling with people in shirts showing which country they were from. I got upgraded to a top floor executive room which had some new perks; the mini bar was stocked full of free things. There was also a big executive lounge where I ate some free food. 

I keep chuckling to myself about the contrast of traveling this way. On the one hand I’m out sweating like a pig and getting grimy from pedaling 6 – 8 hours a day. Eating from gas stations while sitting under freeway overpasses and washing my clothes in the sink. On the other hand I’m staying in fancy hotels with rich people perks in general luxury. I’m enjoying it but it is an odd mix of daily experiences. 

I think I am going to work on getting to Geneva next. There is a nice bike route down the Rhine river but I sort of want to skip some of that via train or something. Going to try and figure that out over the next few days.