Day 7

24/08/2011 – Day 7

Hebelhof to Mulheim and back

An early start is needed today; the taxi is booked for 8am for the hour drive to Mulheim. Finally something might happen and we can be back on the road.

After breakfast I am outside waiting for the taxi and it arrives on time. The route takes me back through Schӧnau which was a two day ride away; we did it in 16 minutes!

And why are we cycling?

When I arrived at the shop, Thomas was there waiting for me. He had been working on the problem and had found a solution. He had traced a set of forks elsewhere in Germany and they had been sent overnight express delivery to him. Now I can be back on the road in a few hours. Wonderful!

Finally, after four days, my bike is back on the road and we can get going again.

I have now amassed taxi bills, an inspection bill and a repair bill for about 1100€, not to mention three extra days in the hostel, three lost days on the road and the inconvenience caused by Easyjet’s incompetence.

The question is will they pay? I am not holding my breath!

M has been very patient through all this and put up with my rants and grumpy mood. To celebrate we go to the pizzeria, again. But this is Wednesday and the whole place is closed!

Walking around the two villages it is like a scene from a zombie movie, the streets are deserted and you are just waiting for the tumbleweed to roll past. Everything is closed!

The only place we can find open is the bar in a hotel complex for families. So we sneak in there for a bar meal. It is that or starve!

I fall asleep that night happy to be reunited with my bike but wondering if it will ever be the same. You all know that feeling, once damaged it will never feel right again.