29 home

Route: 106 kilometers, accumulated: 2,181 kilometers | Elevation gain: 670 meters, total elevation gain: 9,819 meters, distance from home: 0 kilometers (as the crow flies)

“You have reached your destination – see you soon!” Those were the last words I heard today through my helmet from my GPS device.

What moved me far more, however, was the sight of Brigitte, who filmed my arrival live. Even though being apart for five weeks was no problem for either of us, we were both happy to be together again.

Initially, I wanted to set off only once everyone was at breakfast so that I could say goodbye. But I didn’t want to have breakfast myself and then start off with a full stomach. So I asked whether I could take something with me instead. A simple sandwich was enough for me, as I had already prepared a thermal container with pasta. I always look forward to that once I’ve completed the first 50 kilometers.

At the beginning, the route went steeply downhill for a long time on natural paths. Instead of pedaling, I was constantly braking, which annoyed me more than it pleased me. If I had been pedaling, I would have warmed up; instead, the airstream cooled me down – and that in the shady forest.

I still enjoyed it, because it was my last of many stages and the conclusion of my Pannonia tour. The first larger town I reached was St. Blasien, known as a spa resort in the Black Forest with its striking cathedral.

After that, the route climbed a little for the first time before descending again for a longer stretch. I always find it great when Komoot guides me into areas that are unknown to me. I hadn’t even heard of the Witznautal before. A real pity! For many kilometers the trail led through a narrow valley that increasingly turned into a gorge, similar to the one we hiked through yesterday. At the end of the valley lay a reservoir, nestled in the landscape, where I took my first longer break. This place impressed and fascinated me deeply; I could have stayed there much longer.

But I felt drawn to continue. I had only covered a third of the distance and hadn’t even crossed the border yet.

The border at Waldshut was there, of course, but like all the other borders I had crossed, it had neither customs officers nor any controls.

From here on, much looked familiar again, and I felt at home once more. The route led mostly along the River Aare, past Wildegg and through Rupperswil, past a fascinating roundabout. Although I’ve ridden through Rupperswil several times before, Komoot still found paths through a large forest that I didn’t know.

From Suhr onwards I knew the way again – it’s the route I always take when I ride to Wohlenschwil.

Brigitte asked me via WhatsApp not to arrive too early, so I took a short break in Staffelbach. My arrival was planned for 3 p.m.

And so it happened that I reached home with just one minute’s delay, where Brigitte was waiting for me with her phone to capture my arrival on video.

Happy and filled with new memories, I am now back home. From experience, I know that I’ll need a few days to settle back into everyday life.

I especially want to encourage older women and men to break out of their usual routines and try new things – even things they may not have trusted themselves to do before. Such activities bring fresh energy into life and break through everyday monotony. I wish you lots of fun with that, and a long and fulfilling life. 😊

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English

Route: 106 kilometers, total: 2,181 kilometers | Elevation gain: 670 meters, total elevation gain: 9,819 meters, distance from home: 0 kilometers (as the crow flies)

“You have reached your destination – see you soon!” Those were the last words I heard today through my helmet from my GPS device.

What moved me far more, however, was the sight of Brigitte, who filmed my arrival live. Even though being apart for five weeks was no problem for either of us, we were both happy to be together again.

Initially, I wanted to set off only once everyone was at breakfast so that I could say goodbye. But I didn’t want to have breakfast myself and then start off with a full stomach. So I asked whether I could take something with me instead. A simple sandwich was enough for me, as I had already prepared a thermal container with pasta. I always look forward to that once I’ve completed the first 50 kilometers.

At the beginning, the route went steeply downhill for a long time on natural paths. Instead of pedaling, I was constantly braking, which annoyed me more than it pleased me. If I had been pedaling, I would have warmed up; instead, the airstream cooled me down – and that in the shady forest.

I still enjoyed it, because it was my last of many stages and the conclusion of my Pannonia tour. The first larger town I reached was St. Blasien, known as a spa resort in the Black Forest with its striking cathedral.

After that, the route climbed a little for the first time before descending again for a longer stretch. I always find it great when Komoot guides me into areas that are unknown to me. I hadn’t even heard of the Witznautal before. A real pity! For many kilometers the trail led through a narrow valley that increasingly turned into a gorge, similar to the one we hiked through yesterday. At the end of the valley lay a reservoir, nestled in the landscape, where I took my first longer break. This place impressed and fascinated me deeply; I could have stayed there much longer.

But I felt drawn to continue. I had only covered a third of the distance and hadn’t even crossed the border yet.

The border at Waldshut was there, of course, but like all the other borders I had crossed, it had neither customs officers nor any controls.

From here on, much looked familiar again, and I felt at home once more. The route led mostly along the River Aare, past Wildegg and through Rupperswil, past a fascinating roundabout. Although I’ve ridden through Rupperswil several times before, Komoot still found paths through a large forest that I didn’t know.

From Suhr onwards I knew the way again – it’s the route I always take when I ride to Wohlenschwil.

Brigitte asked me via WhatsApp not to arrive too early, so I took a short break in Staffelbach. My arrival was planned for 3 p.m.

And so it happened that I reached home with just one minute’s delay, where Brigitte was waiting for me with her phone to capture my arrival on video.

Happy and filled with new memories, I am now back home. From experience, I know that I’ll need a few days to settle back into everyday life.

I especially want to encourage older women and men to break out of their usual routines and try new things – even things they may not have trusted themselves to do before. Such activities bring fresh energy into life and break through everyday monotony. I wish you lots of fun with that, and a long and fulfilling life. 😊

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Español 

Ruta: 106 kilómetros, acumulado: 2.181 kilómetros | Desnivel: 670 metros, desnivel acumulado: 9.819 metros, distancia desde casa: 0 kilómetros (en línea recta)

«Has alcanzado tu destino. ¡Hasta pronto!» Esas fueron hoy las últimas palabras que escuché a través del soporte de mi dispositivo GPS sobre el casco.

Sin embargo, me impresionó mucho más ver a Brigitte, que había grabado en directo mi llegada. Aunque la separación de cinco semanas no fue un problema para ninguno de los dos, nos alegramos de volver a estar juntos.

En realidad, hoy quería salir solo cuando todos estuvieran en el desayuno, para poder despedirme. Pero yo mismo no quería desayunar y luego salir con el estómago lleno. Así que pregunté si podía llevarme algo en su lugar. Me bastó un bocadillo, porque ya me había preparado un recipiente térmico con pasta. Siempre la espero con ganas cuando he recorrido los primeros 50 kilómetros.

Al principio, durante mucho tiempo, el camino bajaba con fuerte pendiente por senderos naturales. En lugar de pedalear, tenía que frenar constantemente, lo que me molestaba más de lo que me alegraba. Si hubiera podido pedalear, habría entrado en calor; así, el viento de la marcha me enfriaba, y encima en el bosque sombrío.

Aun así, lo disfruté, porque era mi última de muchas etapas y el cierre de mi recorrido por Panonia. La primera población grande a la que llegué fue St. Blasien, conocida como balneario en la Selva Negra, con su llamativa catedral.

Después subí por primera vez un poco, para luego volver a bajar durante más tiempo. Siempre me encanta cuando Komoot me guía a regiones desconocidas para mí. Ni siquiera de oídas conocía el valle de Witznau. ¡Una verdadera lástima! Durante muchos kilómetros avancé por un valle estrecho que se fue convirtiendo cada vez más en una garganta similar a la que habíamos recorrido ayer a pie. Al final del valle, encajado entre las montañas, se encontraba un embalse donde hice mi primera pausa más larga. Este lugar me impresionó y fascinó mucho; podría haberme quedado allí más tiempo.

Pero algo me impulsaba a seguir. Solo había dejado atrás un tercio del trayecto y ni siquiera había cruzado la frontera.

La frontera en Waldshut estaba ahí, por supuesto, pero, como todas las demás fronteras que crucé, sin agentes de aduanas ni controles.

A partir de aquí, muchas cosas me resultaban familiares y volví a sentirme en casa. El camino me llevó mayormente a lo largo del río Aare, pasando por Wildegg y por Rupperswil, con una rotonda fascinante. Aunque ya había pasado varias veces por Rupperswil, Komoot encontró para mí caminos desconocidos a través de un gran bosque.

Solo a partir de Suhr volví a conocer el camino, el mismo que siempre tomo cuando voy a Wohlenschwil.

Brigitte me pidió por WhatsApp que no llegara demasiado pronto, así que hice una pequeña pausa en Staffelbach. Habíamos previsto mi llegada para las 15:00.

Y así fue como llegué a casa con solo un minuto de retraso, donde Brigitte me esperaba con el móvil para grabar mi llegada en vídeo.

Feliz y lleno de nuevos recuerdos, ahora estoy de nuevo en casa. Por experiencia sé que ahora necesito unos días para volver a integrarme en la rutina cotidiana.

En especial quiero animar a las personas mayores, tanto mujeres como hombres, a salir de su rutina habitual y probar cosas nuevas, incluso cosas que quizá hasta ahora no se habían atrevido a hacer. Este tipo de actividades aportan un aire fresco a la vida y rompen con la monotonía de siempre. Te deseo que lo disfrutes mucho y que tengas una vida larga y plena. 😊