I wasn't too hopeful to start with. I clambered out of my tent after another freezing night and it was indeed cloudy and wet. I had hoped for better but...I packed up my damp gear and headed off for town. I stopped at a bakers for breakfast, expertly ordering by pointing and smiling.
The ride, once out of town, was simple and trouble free. I rode past Walhalla - a finished (but being restored) acropolis like structure looking out over the river. Having tested my fear of heights in Ulm I had no qualms at all about not climbing up to sit on the steps although I am sure the view is spectacular.
I continued. Took a little diversion to to the museum of nostalgia which was closed so I'll never know what we were to be nostalgic about.
I stopped for lunch in a pretty market town. I found a cafe with a vegetarian selection on the menu and ordered something. I knew it involved potatoes and sauerkraut so was pleasantly surprised by the potato cakes that arrived (the menu reader in my dictionary proving once again to be utterly useless). I felt I deserved a desert so had ice-cream to finish. Just a little portion.
I had waited until I found somewhere nice for lunch so only had 35km to do in the afternoon. The last 15k dragged as ever and, noticing I had actually been going quite fast I amused -and half killed- myself by trying to get my average speed up to 20kph. (I reached 19.9 but then had to find the site so ended up at 19.8) Probably not the best plan as it meant working quite hard but tomorrow is a short day and anything over 80k is always a bit of psychological push (its a head game is this cycling you know) I even stretched when I got in.
Now, having eaten my rice and lentils in mushroom sauce and washing my hair in soap cause whatever I bought in the supermarket wasn't shampoo I am sitting in a beer garden over looking the river and sipping white wine.
I feel I deserve it.
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