Saar that again – Cycling in Germany

Well the rubber has hit the road and the bums have hit the seats. Seats 15 bums 0.

Yes it has been a crushing victory for the seats but by the end of our 110th km today I could sense that the bums were going to ultimately win this battle.

We finished the Saar leg of the trip today and it was better than expected. From riding past nuclear power plants with their massive cooling towers to cycling through medieval forest settings, the Saar had it all for a couple of forgetful kiwis.

The forgetting part involved leaving our power adapter at the first hotel. Crikey, this is the gadget powered trip of a lifetime and suddenly I have no power. Maps (gone), communication with down under (gone), photographs (gone), shucks, I cannot even pay the bills back home.

So what do you do, we’ll muster up your best Deutsch and find our where you might get one. Ok so that was an abysmal failure, best Deutsch equated to blank stares and suppressed laughter. However, we found a kindly frauline at tonight’s hotel who showed me where I could find a shopping centre that might help. After lying to Ruth that it was just down the road, we found not only the shopping centre but also an Australian power adapter. So folks I can still bore the socks off you.

Did I mention that we have clocked 110 km over the first two days. Got through the first big day with the help of some local brew. Ruth mentioned that her legs were dead at one stage but I ignored it, she was still pedalling and that is all that matters.

Each day has delivered a new highlight, on arrival it was our bed, the next day, Saarbrucken delivered sights that were special, our first day on the bikes, we went from heavy industrial to remote tracks, to Mettlach, the quaintest factory outlet village I have seen.

Today we wandered the streets on old Saarburg before arriving in Trier, the oldest city in Germany. The Roman ruins are everywhere and in remarkably good condition. The city centre gave us the first taste of the tourist hordes, the other days we have been the only foreigners in town.

Mettlach did provide us with an insight into the endeavours of the local church to keep the locals in the fold. They are reminded of it’s presence very 15 minutes by a ringing of the bells(24×7). Then at 6:30pm and 6:30am, the Priest lets rip with a barrage of bell ringing that seems to go on until the faithfull are all seated in the church. I am surprised that they have not burned the place down.

This was one time where being deaf was a massive advantage.

Oh the other forgetfulness is cliff, one pair of sunglasses and Ruth, one pair of reading glasses.