April 26, 2016: Cycling home stage 4 - 20K en route to the western frontier of the German Reich: Aachen

Garmin Activity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1144379602

193 km, 8h56, elevation gain 2001m. Trip rating 70%

第四天終於到了德國最西部的哪個市。接近200公里的丘陵,下雨還有逆風!看到家裡的距離不到100了,心裡有鼓熱血在沸騰

Getting back on track after yesterday's ordeal, that was today's mission. I woke up and checked booking.com and I found a simple hostel in Aachen. That is where I would be spending the night. Around 200 km and then I was finally home. I had breakfast at the hotel and then I left.

Thanks for giving me shelter in times of need, Bad Marienburg, this will not be easily forgotten...

The forecast yesterday predicted it would still be snowing and raining all day. Luckily it turned out to be different, although it was very cold still.

These white fields and trees in the early morning were stunning!

They gave my long range a mythical aspect

I had only just begun, but already had many reasons to keep pushing that snapshot button

Highly unusual, this white paradise at 500+ meters. It is not what you would expect this time of the year.

If the weather would stay like this all day, that would be marvelous!

I was not the only cyclist enjoying this

The first part of the ride was still hilly, even though I was already in West Germany

No ride would be complete without that little stretch of offroadness Garmin insists I take

This was a nice section where I climbed 250 meters at one go. 

The weather was fairly stable to day, very cold, but stable

There was a pack of hikers who asked me for directions here. Funny part is I actually could help them out...

Not even 50 km in the saddle, but already 700 meters of elevation gain. This ride was not an inch easier than yesterday...

Sometimes there would be mini downpours.

A small mountain village called Beule. Elevation in this part was itnense

Clouded and overcast skies, gusty and icy winds, but no actual hard downpour. That was my setting for the day.

I already saw Köln indicated on the signs, that looked good!

I stopped at this gas station for snacks. Only 140 km left to the center of Aachen. Progress was fairly good

The German tricolor flag

Are you familiar with the feeling of ticking off a checkpoint? Hitting a certain milestone that motivated you to carry on? That is exactly the sensation that befell upon me when I saw this sign: Nortrein Westfalen, the Bundesland that borders with the Netherlands. I was close now, very close!

It had been one full day within Czechia, then my ordeal through East and Central Germany, all the way to this westermost province. It felt good and I had new energy to keep on pedaling!

Not much later, there was a more intense downpour. I stopped to wrap in my backpack and have a snack. 

Wet roads as usual... Good thing I bought that mud guard/

I had finally arrived in the plains of West Germany. No more hills, only these long straight sections of road. This part was going next to the train. I saw children coming home from school and I was not the only cyclist on these lanes.

As I approached Bonn, the sun would come out again. Was the storm finally over?

Bonn, one of West Germany's larger cities at the banks of the Rhein river. I had visited the city last time in 2004, when I was studying in Germany. The thought that a dozen of years have already passed since was striking. Twelve years ago it was unthinkable that I would visit the city by bike, especially knowing I came from Prague.

It was getting warm enough for me to drop some textile. From here it was a good 100 km to Aachen. With plains like these, that would be no issue. I did not have any time pressure.

Too bad I was sent straight through the town center. Watch out for tram rails and pedestrians!

The city center of Bonn

Then I crossed the great river of the Rhein, one of Europe's veins. This filled me with a feeling of might.

The Rhein, Western Germany's beating heart. Twelve years ago, I took a cruise on this very same river, but those memories have already flown away, just like the water on which we floated back then.

Spontaneously I also thought about the Rhein's part in WWII, how Hitler had all these bridges blown up (except for one). Terrifying to think of what has happened here less than hundred years ago.

With Bonn behind me, I had another section flat field roads. With the sun coming out, there was only one element depriving the setting of perfection: that was the headwind I faced. I was going to the west and the wind was going east. I had to fight against heavy blows of oxygen circulation that slowed down my pace significantly. Instead of the usual 30 kmph, I know had to be happy with speeds around 22-24.

The city of Bornheim, where I had a booked reservation for the previous night.

Better late than never :-)

Head wind was extremely heavy, it reduced my speed tremendously

More tiny roads

Maria was also present

This part was a touristic area

I stopped here to enjoy a snack and relax a little. It was still more than sixty km

A very contrasting view here

Keep on fighting

The good part was that everything was flat, no more hills

The sky even turned clear blue

The city of Düren was only 13 km away from this spot. After Düren, I would already be moving towards Aachen. Things were looking good.

This place was perfect for a quick brake.

Then it happened, my Road bike collected more than 20.000 KM, in less than 2 years. Excellent work man!

20K is a reason for celebration! Celebrate good times COME ON!!!

Right before arriving in Aachen, there was a forest area where elevation rose 150 meters. 

Keep on climbing

Maybe not very clear on this picture, but I could see place names in Belgium and Holland on that blue sign. It meant I was close!

Alemania Aachen! I am here! The West gate of this German fortress. I had kebab for dinner and watched some soccer. I went to bed early enough. Only 90 km left to home.