Day 44: At mothers

Before today I was jittery. The weather report speaks of storms, heavy rain, thunderstorms, continuous rain. komoot says 100 km with 1,000 meters of altitude to Esslingen am Neckar. I grew up there, my mother lives there, my sister. komoot recommends a multi-day tour. As always, I do it according to our Bavarian "light figure": let's see.
First I look out the window: sun. At breakfast, the waitress looks intensely out of the window, and I watch too: It's black coming from the west. Ponder brood and study (the younger ones may google "EAV" to get the point): Don't rush to pack, but get ready anyway. Shortly after half past eight I'm done: light rain, so let's go! after 500 m I put on the anorak, after about 2 km also the rain pants. I would have gaiters with me, but the water can run off the sandals...
Durlach, Singen, Stein I drive in the rain, strictly according to komoot. It's noticeably uphill, along the Enz, but still doable. Göbrichen reach after a first real test, at Enzberg I have to push, but it has stopped raining. It's getting steamy. The descents, which are always there, are really good. I'm approaching Mühlacker, a candidate for an overnight stay if the weather isn't kind to me. But all good so far. The landscape changes. The fields are smaller, adapted to the heights. Meadow orchards, in between a few vines, partly harvested fields, wooded areas, the villages on the hillside, crouched to adapt to the landscape, the new housing estates growing up the hillside. I can study that well in Riet, I have to push longer there. So it goes uphill downhill, the climbs don't hurt, the descents relieve.
I can't even get to Vaihingen an der Enz, I guess I didn't look closely enough. In Ditzingen I wanted to keep an eye out for a cafe, but couldn't find one. A gas station has to serve. When I look at the speedometer, I think to myself: Now you can drive at full speed. When a sign saying "Stuttgart 12 km" appears, I call my mother and tell them about the change of plan: I'll be there today instead of tomorrow. "No problem, I'm happy" was the answer. Let's go. Weilimdorf, Feuerbach - I'm in Stuttgart. Up the Pragsattel - how much has changed since I was last here. Incredible.
On a bicycle bridge, I look over to the Robert Bosch Hospital, which lies below a vineyard. Then it breaks out of me, I can't go on. Almost 50 years ago I visited my favorite uncle in this hospital with my moped, a short time later he lost the fight against cancer. More images pop into my head: the grandfather lying on his couch, cigar in mouth. The grandmother holding my son very carefully. The other grandmother who always had to tell me the story of the lost sheep from the Bible when I was a little boy. I think of the other grandfather who died years before I was born and who, thanks to a family constellation, found his place in me. My father passed away 2 years ago. My mother, who will be very happy when I stand in front of her safely. After that I can continue driving despite wet eyes. The bicycle visit is - probably because of the intensive "contact" with the familiar area - a journey into the past.
We continue, partly along the Neckar, in the direction of Esslingen. Short stop at my high school, one last climb to my home. Done after 100 km and 1,000 meters in altitude. I wished for roasted Maultaschen and my wish has come true. This morning I would not have thought that the day would end like this. A good day!