Back at the Hof

Sticking to my tour, I followed the national bike route through my city. It ran through the Bürgerpark. I appreciated again how large this forest in the middle of the city is.

The sun was getting low by the time I reached the edge of the forest. This time with fully loaded bicycle bags and looking a lot more ragged, I joined the stream of cyclists on my usual route home from my work for over a decade. The sky was beautiful and cast a glow on this landscape, now both familiar and foreign.

The bike path went all the way till my home in Borgfeld. I went inside and was promptly sat down by Heike to catch up on dinner. And just like that, I was back in my familar home setting. I was absorbed into the chatter and the stories. I was back as one of the Höflinge.

My trip started 202 days ago with a hearty breakfast at this table. Then I took the 12300 km way back to dinner.

Reminds of the lines of one of my favorite travel writers: "All travel is circular. After all, the grand tour is just the inspired man's way of heading home."Read more