August 8, 2022 - Kassel

 I left Melsungen this morning after a good breakfast at my hotel in upper 50"s temperature. I had a very pleasant surprise as the receptionist handed me a going away bag with an apple a Mineral Water .5L container and some candy. It was a good surprise. I left with a smile but it did not last. My bicycle fell over and I spent 30 minutes working to get my steering smooth. That means not too tight and not too loose.Too tight and you under steer and too loose your can over steer. Both can cause accidents. I did get resolved about 5 km down the road and numerous stops to adjust. It is all just part of the journey.

After a few turns getting out of the city I came to the usual bike path for this trip, level and smooth asphalt. This is an improvement from my first bike trip in 2010 which was mostly unpaved.Most all of the Eurozone has been investing heavily (billions)  in bicycle travel for a number or reasons, health, climate, tourism, just to name a few. I have enjoyed close to 6000 miles of their investments over the years. God willing i get to enjoy a few more all be it a slower pace than in 2010.

This is an example of the stuff between the timbers in a timber frame barn. There is aware window to the right out of the picture. I was originally going to take a picture of a white rooster that was watching me go by. It took me some time to find my camera and he move away from the window. So I just took this one.

On a side note I keep a lot of stuff in my handlebar bag, phone, wallet, map, change, handkerchief. a bicycle tool, sunscreen, camera, etc. I want to ask the ladies why is it that what ever I want, no matter what, it is always on the bottom. Does that happen in your purse? How to I correct that?

This picture and the one above were taken from the same spot. This is a pedestrian bicycle bride over the Fulda. This was in an area filled with hunting lodges and small personal type cabins such as vacation types. I did not see many people. Hunting and guns are very controlled in Germany. Oh yes, that is my bicycle on the bridge, by this time of the morning my front water bottle is empty.

A bike path sign along the way. This trip has so far been well marked. The sign of course points in the direction of travel but that can be tricky especially if you are at an angle and there are multiple paths in that direction. So far I have not missed many turns for longer than a second or two.

The banks of the Fulda River, notice the river is getting larger as more and more small streams are flowing into the river.

This is one of those tricky signs. I was going to Kassel, the sign for Kassel was both in the shadows and partially blocked by the limbs. I am sure it was missed by many. I did not miss it as I am exceptionally slow and was actually stopped to drink some water.

A few chickens in a pen by the road.

A few geese in a pen by the road.

A covered bridge on the bike path, people and bicycles only.

Another view, notice the excellent and expensive construction.

One of my least favorite road signs. It officially translates as "Bicycle Detour". I have seen these often. I always that it should mean "bicyclist you are about to get lost as the detour is not well marked". That should tell you what has happened to me over years. This one was short and not well marked but was easy to figure out.

My first non paved road. It only lasted about two kms.

After arriving in Kassel, i checked into my room, it was nice. I took a streetcar ride to downtown and the Brothers Grimm Museum. It was a modern building and the exhibits were well organized to tell their story of both creating the first dictionary of the German Language and the collecting of folk stores in the Fulda and Weser river areas. Both activities were interrelated.

Kassel is build upon a tall hill overlooking the Fulda River valley (Fuldatal). At my age with all of my old age stuff, I do not like hills.

My beer for the night. It was a black ale, one of my favorite types.

My meal for the evening, a steak, breadt with herbed butter and french fries. All was very good. I cleaned my plate.

Tomorrow I will stay in the Kassel area and visit sights located within the regional railroad area. I will not ride my bike. This is a fairly large city.

There has been a headwind for most of the day. hey are not fun for bicyclist. Tail wind on the other hand are excellent. I may alter my trip to change the head wind into a tail wind. I will let you know, so please be flexible.

"All who wander are not lost."

Bis Morgen