Location: Nova Bystrice
Km on the clock: 998

The day started with a little disappointment. I just entered the small town Nauen and stopped at a supermarket to stock up for the day. I took off the handlebar bag and the little bicycle computer before I entered the store - as I always do. Apparently I pressed one computer button  for too long and accidentally reseted it. Shit! I'm such an idiot. I must have had already 625 kilometers on the clock by then - probably even a little bit more. While I was picnicking outside the store I thought: Does that mean I've to start over now? It still counts right? Oh well, seems like from now on I'll have to add those kilometers. :D

I arrived Berlin in the evening the same day. I bought a bottle of wine as a gift for my friend and former roommate Vivian who hosted me the next two nights. During dinner and wine we caught up about what happened in our lives over the past few years.

I spent the next day with some sightseeing. I felt good to be in the capital again since it has been a while that I've been here. There's just so much history around here so that you could stay here basically forever to explore it all. However, two days later I left Berlin and was excited to head in direction Czech Republic now and to see its capital Prague soon.

I pedaled for three days through the southern part of Brandenburg and Saxony. One night I pitched my tent at the Inline-Skate-Bahn in Brandenburg. It provides broad cycling lanes and the tarmac of most parts is like new or is about to get renewed. It was great fun to ride around there. While I set up my tent I heard some noise in the bushes nearby - maybe 15 meters away from me. I walked towards it to take a closer look and discovered a big fat wild hog. It ran immediately away when it scented me. I thought: Oh great...at least this time I know what kind of animals are around me at nights and as long it won't try to get into my tent at night then everything is cool!

The two days in Dresden went by really quick. I stayed at a hostel in the Neustadt. Lots of other travelers from all over the world stood there as well. In the eventings we hung out together, chatted and a had a drink, whereas I used the days to explore the city. I visited all the places that I missed last year when I came here with a friend for a weekend trip.

I was excited but also nervous when I left Dresden. Today would be the day that I'd leave Germany and enter Czech Republic. I was excited about all the adventures that would lay ahead of me outside of my home country and nervous how I'd get along in a country where people don't speak my language and maybe not even English.

I pedaled alongside the river Elbe and could already see Czech Republic on the other side of it. I wondered if I was also already in Czech and if I simply missed the border signs. I stopped to ask two ladies biking the other direction - one in her twenties, one in her fifties - if this was already Czech Republic and if there would be some sort of sign at the border. The younger one answered with an American accent: "No, this is still Germany but Czech will come very soon. However, there's no sign which says that you're entering the country." I was a bit disappointed that there wouldn't be a sign to take a picture as proof that I made it accross Germany and that I'd enter the next country any moment. I kept cycling for a few more minutes until I reached the border. The  big stony sign stated Czech Republic. How can someone miss that? :D

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Location: Somewhere in Brandenburg
Km on the clock: 612

It's 30th June 2019 at 11 am. I just arrived at Flensburg Hafenspitze (tip of the harbor) after already cycling 20 kilometers from my mom's. The Hafenspitze was the official starting point of my traveling the world on a bicycle journey.

It was a hot and sunny day with up to 35 degrees Celsius and the last chance to say goodbye to family and friends. As the bells of a nearby church were ringing at 12 o'clock it was time for some last hugs and kisses and time for me to leave. Now there was no return and the dream finally came true.

Due to the heat I needed a first break after already one hour and 20 kilometers outside of Flensburg. I even felt that exhausted that I took a nap on a bench in front of the church in Satrup. :D

The next days I made it through the hilly eastern part of Schleswig-Holstein. Some hills were that steep that my maximum speed was in between 8-10 kilometers per hour and quite a pain in the arse. I realized that it would time some take to get used to a life on a bicycle. Going downhill on the other hand was fun. I reached speeds of up to almost 40 kilometers per hour and made me forget of the frustrations of going uphill immediately.

I spent the first few nights either on campsites or with family or friends. After staying in Hamburg at a friends place for two nights I headed east towards Berlin alongside the river Elbe. Originally I planned to cycle directly in direction Prague from here but I got invited to stay with another friend in Berlin for a few days. I didn't see her for a few years so it would be great opportunity to catch up after such a long time.

From now on I camped in the wild every night. That was the adventure that I was looking for. Especially the first night somewhere in nowhere behind the embankment was a bit spooky. I woke up in the middle of the night hearing some grunting right next to my tent. The same creature also seemed to repel its horns on a tree next to me. I didn't know how to react. Should I make noises to chase it away? Or should I keep quiet and wait until it's gone? Since I was simply too tired to chase the beast away, I decided to stay quiet and tried to fall asleep again. That plan worked out pretty well. I guess dealing with the noises of the nights is something that I also have to get used to. :D

If you enjoy reading this blog then please support my fundraising campaign to equip school classrooms in Darfur, Sudan. Thank you!

And if you enjoy reading it a lot, then I'd appreciate if you'd support me with a virtual cup of coffee on Ko-fi. Cheers! :)

Click here if you want to take a look at my equipment.