The big cycling tour Day 1: Start in Frankfurt

I sleep poorly, I drank a lot of red wine last night, but it didn't help. Do I have everything I need? Why are my bicycle panniers so full, what is unnecessary? At 03:30 AM, I get up and empty my two panniers one by one: what can I leave behind, what do I not really need? Except for a pair of socks and underwear, I think (still?) that I should take everything that is lying in front of me on the floor on my big cycling tour to Rome. There is night frost at the Maloja Pass and 30 degrees in Rome. Besides, I might want to go out for a meal and not in leggings and cycling attire. So I need to bring a pair of pants and a summer dress, no matter how much "Fräulein Draußen" and Christine Thürmer promote minimalism.

I could significantly reduce my luggage if I leave the tent, sleeping bag, Therm-A-Rest mattress, and stove along with basic kitchen stuff like dishwashing liquid, salt & pepper, and olive oil at home, only stay in pensions, and always eat out. But I don't want to do that, I don't feel that old yet, I'm only 53 and I love being "Signora Draußen". In my partner's VW bus, which we often use, there isn't much space either, but at least the weight of things doesn't matter there.

By shortly after 04:00 AM, I have packed again and lie down in bed, I should try to get some more sleep. P gets up at 07:00 AM and goes to the garden to hide Easter eggs. He wants to do the Easter ritual with his children, we were in France for kayaking on Easter weekend. I finally get up and try to fit everything on the bike.

At 09:00 AM, we all meet for a joint Easter breakfast, after that, I fiddle more with my bike than participate in the egg hunt.

P still needs to go to the Zeilsheimer bike shop to get a spare part for his son's bike. I go with him and leave the store with an Ortlieb handlebar bag - a very wise decision - as well as a sturdier stand, after all, I'm now something like an extra-wide heavy transporter.

Finally, at 11:30 AM, I finally leave, saying goodbye is quite difficult for me.

https://www.komoot.de/tour/746445078?ref=itd

In the evening twilight, I finally arrive at the campsite, the trial setup of the tent comes in handy now. I can't manage more than a vegetable broth soup on the new stove before I crawl into the sleeping bag, tired but happy.

Camping Mainaue, Wörth am Main, 7.00€ without WiFi and without shower.