The weather forecasts indicated 35C plus for the next few days which is unusually high for Germany in terms of consistent dry sunny days. Yes - I'm 'going to go there' - even the locals concede climate change is real - Good for me being a warm weather person but now Germany has to consider its water use. For daily hydration I load up with 3 litres in my trusty seven-year-old and well made seven-years-old Camelback 'Mule'.
I've never been one for brand promotion 😉 (people know I love my Subarus) but I have to say this is the best hydration backpack I've ever owned - no tears, zips still working perfectly and very robust 🐘. This quality is unusual for anything these days while the world transitions from 'Made in China' labels on your clothes to 'Made in Mexico' or 'Made in Vietnam'. China's companies are continually chasing cheaper labour countries including Africa because the burgeoning middle-class of China now demands higher wages (no surprise 👀) just like developed western nations and you can’t blame the workers.
Beautiful heady smells of old Summer roses along the paths
I also load up with a full thermos of boiled water for tea because I may not be anywhere near a village when I feel like a cuppa and only occasionally have a cafe coffee. Most villages are only 10-15km intervals and have an ALDI, LIDL, Netto or other supermarkets which allows me to travel 'light' in terms of supplies and water unlike the tyranny of distance I have to accomodate in Australia and NZ. Food is very cheap - I can buy 4.5 litres of water, fresh salad for lunch, fruit, items for preparing breakfast and the evening meal to last for a couple of days for around 6 Euros 👀 in Germany!!
Mmmm time for a cuppa
Many villages and towns in Germany's rural areas are surrounded by wooded enclaves so I could approach the outskirts without any clues of a settlement other than the occasional glance down of my bicycle computer. However the one consistent visual clue I look for is the church steeple standing high above the tree line. The city of Meissen in Saxony is home to the oldest porcelain factory in Europe and Albrechtsburg the oldest castle in Germany which dominates the landscape. It's very old and massive structure built around the 15th century and an example of late Gothic architectural style.
I stayed close by just south of the town on the Elbe river at a local 'campingplatz' for two nights - 7 Euro a night including wonderful hot showers and a quiet piece of grassy area next to the stream. The caretaker had spent a few years living and working in Western Australia as a chef so we had plenty to chat about.
Tonight's menu - mmm Green Chicken Curry - yes I have all the ingredients thanks to the local organic delicatessen which stocks fresh coriander and small travel-sized jars of Thai curry paste which pretty much self-preserves because of the chilli - yessss!! 😊
Tonight's movie - The Accidental Tourist - 1988 - Geena Davis, William Hurt and many others you will know and one of my favourite 'indi' style people stories.
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