Day 4 { may 29th 2002 }
“Getting high ”
Can things even get better? Yes they can! Today is purely about enjoying nature and the sun. A mindblowing experience reminds me of a wise old saying; it’s not the final destination that counts, but the journey itself.
I’m laying on my back in the grass at a camping looking at the blue sky. My mind is blank.
Swallows manoeuver at impossible angles in that huge, vast, immeasurable space. What a terrific day.
I entered the Eifel in Germany and Luxemburg. Perfect weather conditions.
I climbed for several miles through thick, dense forests,
I descended between rolling hills along steep, rocky slopes... All this time the sun does it’s very best and a soothing cool
wind blows into my face from time to time to keep the temperature at an acceptable level. Just the sound of birds and the occasional
muffled sound
of a jet-liner high up in the sky...
“...mindnumbingly overwhelming”
I cycled up a road and stopped to drink something. When I stopped, and had the bottle in my hand, all the bicycle sounds
had disappeared and I was surrounded by perfect silence. The utter ‘nothingness’. Just small villages, woods,
pastures etc. below me. Could look into the valleys as far as 40 km’s. The feeling that was associated with it, the knowledge
that you are completely alone, far away from home, totally independant, surrounded by tranquility,
with your own thoughts, can be so mindnumbingly (literally) overwhelming in just one second...
In other words, today was great.
“...no butt pain, sore wrists
or neck”
The camping I’m at right now is owned by a Dutchman (Sittard) and he has (very recently) replaced the shower facillities.
Brand new! Had to adjust a wheel spanner which had come loose strange enough.. Apart from that, the Condor is doing a great job.
No butt-pain, no sore wrists or neck.
Somewhere in between Harspelt and Dahnen in Germany, I have lunch in some people’s
kitchen (their cafe is actually closed, but they let me in after having seen my luggage and bicycle). Once more, I amaze them
when I tell them about my plan. The more often I tell people about it, the further away it sounds...
“...impressive panaramic vieuws for miles”
I have finally covered 100 km’s in one day although the terrain was rather demanding.
The last part of the Ardennes can wear you out rather quickly (relatively small hills, but they keep coming and coming...).
And than; the Eifel. The landscape ‘opens up’ quickly and in the beginning there are gently curved grassy hills
(impressive panoramic views for miles and miles under a blue sky) followed by the perfect mixture of rocky slopes, hollow roads,
small rivers and an abundance of cool, refreshing shadows. Just the way I like it. Eventually, this will be my favourite part
of the experience.
But I have to go to bed. My body needs it, although I do not feel tired. That surprises me. I worked hard all day.
May this day be a positive reminder for lesser moments to come!
