Von Nürnberg nach Peulendorf

Thursday, June 4, 2020

5.00 am... a look at the fields... the farmers are already on their way. Better I get going now. I dismantle my tent and get my vehicle ready. On the way to the federal road to Erlangen, the trailer rocks back and forth🙉 What did I do wrong? I rearrange my luggage for a second time... I hope I can soon exchange this trailer for a better one. I continue to the next town, once again with the vision of a cup of coffee in my head. And there I pass another gas station with a shower🚿... wonderful! That's how my day starts well!

Today I'm driving a quite long stretch along the Main-Danube Canal. It's not as hilly anymore, I'm making faster progress. I want to reach Bad Staffelstein today to visit my dear friend Lothar.

In the afternoon, I'm passing through Neuses an der Regnitz. After a short stretch through a construction site with a torn-up road, I experience the next surprise with my trailer 🙄 It tips over and a screw breaks in the frame. Oh my God!!! I'm standing in the pouring rain in a construction site and the trailer is almost broken in two. What now? First, stay calm. I put the heavy backpack and other things against a fence where the rain hasn't reached yet. Then I fix the frame with a silver duct tape... load my trailer again and continue driving. No chance... The trailer rocks back and forth. It's totally unstable. After a few meters, I experience the total knock-out😁 Now the trailer is lying there in two pieces... the second screw, which attaches the towing bar to the trailer, has also snapped. So, I'm standing on the outskirts of the town on a country road and start praying 🙏 As I line up my luggage against the guardrail, an older gentleman comes by. I ask him if he has any idea how I could get two screws. He tells me about a hardware store at the edge of town. My concern now is, what do I do with my luggage? The nice gentleman promises to keep an eye on it. God be with him! That's my chance. In a rush, I ride my bike to the store... And indeed... I get the appropriate screws 😊 I quickly repair the trailer and my journey continues. I am so grateful for this divine intervention!

Most of the time it's raining on this day. Everything is already soaked... Not much fun 🙄 I want to reach Bad Staffelstein today, as agreed with my friend Lothar. There are still 20 km left now... the terrain is very hilly... the strength is slowly fading, and I have to push the bike uphill more and more often. But that's not enough yet! In the late afternoon, my phone runs out of battery, which serves as my navigation. I found out in Forchheim that I can charge my batteries in the bank. Sometimes there are power outlets in the lobby. But unfortunately, that's not the case here in the villages. And I can't find a restaurant either.

I arrive in a small village called Peulendorf. There I see two friendly men of my age sitting in a garden. I ride up to their property and ask them about the nearest restaurant... and if I could possibly charge my phone with them. Both are equally helpful. Thomas takes me to his house to use an outlet. They ask me about the goal of my journey... it will be a cozy evening. Thomas gives me accommodation for this night. We eat together, have a beer and have great conversations. I am very grateful because the weather is just cold and uncomfortable. I thank Thomas and Stefan for the lovely time 🙏😊