I woke around 7. That’s a good night’s sleep for me! I got up, brushed my teeth and packed my belongings, leaving them inside the tent. All of my clothes are dirty so I ended up wearing dirty trousers and a fleece.
There was a fort (Chateau du Haut Barr) atop a nearby wooded hill which I fancied checking out. There was an apparent 14 min bike ride to get there. I foolishly trusted my beeline. It took me up a road, then up a grassy path, which quickly devolved into muddy steep walking trails through the woods, shrouded by nettles and crossed by sticks and fallen trees. I wheeled my bike up, having to go shirtless as I sweated through my fleece. Eventually I locked the bike to a tree and continued on foot.
The fort is built into huge standing rocks which form naturally atop the hill. I was completely alone. I explored the cobbled paths and ancient stone work. At one point I climbed over 2 fences and up a flight of stairs to get a spectacular view from atop a natural stone pillar. I then did the same from its man-made counterpart. Alsace is, as I have said, beautiful.
I scurried back to my bike and shredded the brakes as I took it down a muddy trail not fit for a mountain bike! What fun.
When back I packed my tent and read in a hammock for a while. Then I headed into Saverne and got three pastries to fuel me for the day, including a lovely apple strudel pastry fusion. Everyone keeps trying to speak to me in German!
I then left Saverne and did 25km along canals before stopping in the shade to eat my last pastry and some Carrefour snacks, and write this.
***
Not much has happened since that last entry. I arrived in Strasbourg, took a quick look at the cathedral and went to my hostel which is very out of the way. I bought some detergent and washed my clothes. Thank god! They are in the dryer as we speak. Now I’m hanging in my empty hostel dorm, alone. I think dinner in the city tonight, then maybe a bar… I wonder if anyone will say hello.
***
I wondered through the park and called Lewis [a friend]. I crossed the footbridge and stepped into Germany for the first time this trip. There was a kind of big party going on on the German side of the river. Hundreds of people, all young, sat around chatting, drinking, playing beer pong. I hovered for a bit then approached. A guy who told me he didn’t speak English informed me it was an end of exam student party. He got me a beer from someone nearby. I wondered while I finished my beer, chatting to an English speaker called Luis. Eventually I left and did a couple of pull ups on the bridge. Some passing German girls yelled “flex!”, then did a few themselves.
I caught a bus into town and didn’t pay. I got a rocket, cherry tomato and parma ham pizza from L’observatoire along with another pint. [Here I signed up to WarmShowers] Then I wondered over to “The blue moon bar”. I procured a pint and ended up sat at a table with a couple of guys, one of whom spoke English well (John). He was Swiss. Both of them were very impressed with my trip. John said if I went to Geneva or Milan he would ask his friends if I could stay with them. Eventually they left to go to parties. John left his bag and I ran it back to him. I’m such a hero.
At his suggestion I wondered down to the canal which was spectacular in the fading light. I sat by it for a while, then went back to the cathedral to get a Kiwi flavoured ice cream. It was still quite warm. I explored the old streets as night drew in. Around 10:30 I got an unnecessary pint at an “Irish Bar”, then got a “free” tram back to the hostel (I also spoke to, and donated 2.5 euro to a homeless man on the way). After drunkenly climbing a rope climbing frame, getting lost in the park after my phone died, and sitting on some oversized chairs and tables, I found my way back to the hostel.
There were now 2 other people in my room. Damn. I said hi, undressed and went to sleep.
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