Tag 48: Who'll stop the rain?

The view out of the window does not bode well: the cars have the wipers on. It doesn't get any better once I've finished breakfast. It's fresh outside too. what to wear I start with only rain jacket and say goodbye to my mother. She kind of picked me up, fed me, baked cakes, even made me iced coffee! Thank you Mama!
After the first few meters the rain gets heavier and it doesn't take long before I put on rain pants and gaiters. It's too cold for sandals and my sturdy shoes need protection. I have to be in Göppingen at 9:49 a.m., two colleagues want to accompany me on the last leg of my journey home (i.e. Unterföhring). Because it's raining, I follow the signs, no komoot. I know the area well enough, when I was a student I used to cycle a lot to relax. I follow the Fils and/or the railway line, only at the very end I have the usual problem that the last sign to the station is missing. So I do another lap of honor in Göppingen, cursing, before I arrive at the train station shortly after quarter to nine. The bike stays outside, I go into the station hall in my wet clothes. From there I see an elderly gentleman looking at my bike. He comes in, says "everything," and walks on. Shortly afterwards he went shopping and spoke to me. He also rides his bike a lot and talks about the past. His tip for rainy weather: short pants and rub yourself with goose fat. It's a mess, but lets the rain drip off and keeps you warm. I'm not entirely convinced, why do I have Goretex things?
My two colleagues from the human resources department come along. I've fought many a "battle" with them, and a real bond of trust has formed. We are not competitors, but have different points of view and are looking for viable solutions. I am totally happy that they are accompanying me!
Only the rain is not really getting better. Sometimes more, sometimes less, it splashes from the sky, but never so hard that you want to give up. So we continue along the Fils with mutual motivation, often off the busy B10. The colleagues have to solve the riddle as to which city does not fit into this series: went to eat sweet cake. Of course: Essen is not in the Filstal!
In Geislingen we pass the "Fischhalle", the outlet center of the WMF. When I tell you that I always go to Lindt when my wife is at WMF or Gardena, there's no stopping me: break! At least Lindt shopping... After refreshment, we drive idyllically behind Geislingen to the Steige. At the courtyard cafe of the Straub-Mühle, just before the ascent, then a proper break to take off the wet rain jacket. There is coffee and cake, warm up. Uncomfortable: putting on damp clothes. Rain. CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival) comes to mind, a long time ago too. They had asked in a song: Who'll stop the rain. I ask myself the same thing...
Then comes the first challenge: the steep cycle path towards Amstetten. After that is mastered, it becomes more pleasant again, we come to the Lone Valley, one of the most beautiful on the Alb. We are now heading in the direction of Langenau, never Ulm. Through Albeck, the birthplace of Robert Bosch (yes, the one with today's company), another climb, then the view of Oberelchingen. Study the inscriptions on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and you will read that name there. It has to do with Napoleon being here once; Unfortunately I forgot more details.
After brief consultation, Günzburg is defined as the stage destination and accommodation is booked. With this boost of motivation, driving is more pleasant, we now know how long we still have to wait for the hot shower. The cold comes by itself... Then the rain stops, we drive via Leipheim to Günzburg, where I have never stopped before. But it's worth it... Like the shower in the Goldener Hirsch after about 100 km of driving, mostly in the rain.