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Vagabonding

August 2022 - April 2024
An open-ended adventure by TakeMeFurther Read more
Currently traveling
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  • 172footprints
  • 20countries
  • 621days
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  • 15.8kkilometers
  • 774sea miles
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  • TravelerVagabonding
    Day 1

    Berlin

    August 15, 2022 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    It is the 15th of August and my adventure begins. I stand in front of the front door and pull it shut, then I am locked out and can take off.

    The start goes off without much fanfare. It is not a start at the Brandenburg Gate or with the waving handkerchiefs of the family in the background, but as banal as a bike ride just starts. You get on your bike and hope that you don't get a flat tire or have an accident before the first intersection. With my heavily loaded bike, which weighs almost as much as I do, there's the added fear that the bike will just tip over and trap me underneath. I had that situation once as a child, getting trapped in my neighbor's front door and all I could do was yell for help. I would like to spare my 33-year-old self and my neighbors this situation.

    Done, I made it through the first intersection and a soon I leave the borders of the city behind me.

    In the afternoon I look after the weather report and see that shortly a tidy summer thunderstorm arrives, which is to rage until late in the evening. I still manage to look for an Italian restaurant nearby and sit out the storm there for several hours. The bike stays outside and passes its first wetness test.
    Note to the navigator: think more often about the weather!

    At night I drive into a forest to look for a place to sleep. The light of my lamp does not reach far and I barely see the animal on the path in front of me. It is just as frightened about the nocturnal encounter as I am. Bewildered from his hissing noise, I stop and the badger takes the opportunity to escape.    Read more

  • TravelerVagabonding
    Day 3

    Leipzig

    August 17, 2022 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    As with driving a car, you notice fatigue on a bicycle because you become unfocused, make mistakes, and misjudge situations.
    On my first meters in Leipzig I want to shoot a photo of the skyline. The roadway is limited by a pipeline and just a moment later my wheel bag is scratching it and I am stopping. So after only three days I have the first holes in the bag. Bravo. At least I can now distinguish the bags from each other.

    In Leipzig I drive to the Cospudener lake and relax there, later I stay overnight directly at the water.

    The next day I meet Melissa*, a good friend, with whom I go to eat in the Aardappel (intl. snack).
    In the afternoon we make a leather dog leash and I leave for my next destination: Kassel.

    * name changed    Read more

  • TravelerVagabonding
    Day 8

    Kassel

    August 22, 2022 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    The road to Kassel takes me through Saxony, Thuringia and Hesse.
    I now notice small regional differences in particular - for example, that there are countless plum bushes in Thuringia, from which I take a bit of provisions every day. The amount is small enough to be considered as own consumption.

    I roll through a village and watch a group of birds cross the road. "How cute!" I think and continue to watch the animals. Calmly they cross the street, as known from school trips an older animal is at the beginning of the row and one at the end.
    They run unerringly towards a bush in the front yard of a family house and then enjoy its petals in peace.
    A few streets away, I see a pack of geese prancing around a VW Passat. Shortly after, the alpha animal goes on the attack and starts nibbling at the trademark and radiator grille. Before the critters can take me in their sights, I prefer to quickly scrape the curve. This city is apparently firmly in the grip of birds.

    In Kassel I visit my sister, we spend a nice evening in her shared apartment and I sleep in a bed for the first time in a long time. I could get used to it ;)    Read more

  • TravelerVagabonding
    Day 10

    Hamm

    August 24, 2022 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    What is there to know about Hamm?

    "The ICEs (German high-speed trains) are always separated there", my grandfather said when I told him the city of my employer.
    Others, including me, didn't know the city. In the meantime, I have grown fond of my bosses' family, but not of the city.

    I'm taking a few days off to service my equipment and spend time with friends. I re-discover the comfort to have a safe haven for once and enjoy a coffee, a hot shower or a nice chat with little effort.

    The farewell party is really nice. In a small circle, quiet, with good conversations.

    "Tilman, you managed to get the family [part of the family] together at one table and everyone stayed calm and at the table. That's quite an achievement!" Marleen* tells me later, the compliment still pleases me now :) .

    My exact route for the next few days is not yet fixed but I am already on the road again, heading south to Stuttgart.

    *name changed    Read more

  • TravelerVagabonding
    Day 15

    Dusseldorf

    August 29, 2022 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    My path leads me west to the Rhine valley. On the way, I pass Wuppertal, unfortunately only on the railway embankment that has been converted into a cycle path. The route is exciting, leads through several tunnels and I see many former railway stations that now serve other purposes.

    I spend the night in a forest that has little life. Instead of hearing many animal voices and noises, there is only one owl. What a pity.
    I leave in the morning - later I realise that I have left a tent pole there. This carelessness will keep me busy for quite a long time. 🤦‍♂️ (Tent pole drama 1/3 )

    How nice it can be when you haven't seen each other for ages and then spontaneously meet up with good friends again I feel when I visit Tim* and Lucy* in Düsseldorf.
    Despite their own plans for the evening and a not quite healthy child, the two of them find time for me and we spend a few wonderful hours in the Wildpark Düsseldorf. (Recommended!)

    * names changed    Read more

  • TravelerVagabonding
    Day 16

    Cologne

    August 30, 2022 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Another spontaneous visit works out and I meet my uncle and aunt near Cologne. I am warmly welcomed and, with the help of her cooking skills I am able to restore some calories during the course of the day. :)

    Afterwards, my route takes me a good distance down the Rhine. I meet an unbelievable number of e-bikers who, despite of riding downhill, also use their electrical assistance (this is where my tolerance ends 😂)

    One of the highlights is a visit to the campsite "am Rhein" in Braubach. I have rarely camped until now, but my expectations are completely exceeded in terms of simplicity, cleanliness, facilities and atmosphere.
    I also have a pleasant neighbour and get some valuable tips for couchsurfing in Denmark, should I drop by there in the future.    Read more

  • TravelerVagabonding
    Day 19

    Stuttgart

    September 2, 2022 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    The last big stop in Germany is coming up. The biggest to be exact. I lived there for a few years. It didn't help me much professionally, but I made some good friends. So it happens that I visit several friends there, especially Robin*, Susi* and my godchild Daniela*.
    We spend almost a whole week together and I have the time be part of her everyday life, for which I am incredibly grateful. Every day she makes little progress and I have to hide my camera from her when I take photos, because once she has focused on something, she wants it! 🫢

    Together with Maria*, another friend, we attend the Bukahara concert, which has been postponed for two years due to the global pandemic. We don't get the same carefree feeling we had back then when I purchased the tickets, but the visit is certainly worth it.

    One evening my algerian friend Susi* discovers a huge spider in the flat. It has long hairy legs. You know what I'm talking about.
    I get the biggest glass I can find, approach slowly and set it down with a sigh of relief. The whole thing must have looked pretty funny because Susi* starts laughing: "Til, you sleep outside in nature! Why are you of all people so afraid of this spider?"
    "That's why I only sleep in a tent , so they all stay outside !" I retort.
    (And besides, natural spiders are much smaller, no idea why.)

    During my time in Stuttgart I also visit Bibi* and Jan* and get to know their son Martin*. Bright little guy, with a smile that blows you away. 😊

    My last stop leads me to Jeffrey* , who has ignited in me the desire for 'real' cycling. Not as blatantly as he does 😇 but still.

    Shortly after Düsseldorf, so already a few days ago, I noticed the loss of my tent pole. It's just an extending pole that enlarges the tent. It is not absolutely necessary but nice-to-have.
    Since losing it, I've been wondering what's wrong with me - how you can lose a bright red tent pole in a forest.
    (Unfortunately not the first but the most important/expensive thing I lost on this trip).
    I have since ordered a replacement and had it delivered to him. I open the package and find that the packaging has been opened and is incomplete - one of the end caps is missing 🥳.
    There is not much time to think about a solution, I have to find it later. So I take everything I need with me and get the bike ready to go. (Tent pole drama 2/3 )

    The next day Jeffrey* and me head off through the Black Forest. We're having good progress - in my estimation - but are still pretty slow, because my bike is not made for ihgh speeds.
    I must emphasise here that I rode the following days completely without luggage, so that I could keep up with him somehow. What a riding experience! 😄

    * all names changed :)    Read more

  • TravelerVagabonding
    Day 26

    Strasbourg

    September 9, 2022 in France ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    The first step (kick) into France is taken. I roll over the bridge that crosses the Rhine and I am in France. Little by little I have to get used to the basic things: Right-before-left rule, behaviour at zebra crossings....

    Jeffrey* and I roll past the European Parliament and then follow the Canal de la Marne au Rhin out of the city.
    It was once the longest canal in France, with several locks and a total length of over 300km. It connected the Moselle with the Rhine and had great economic importance at that time. Nowadays, it is mainly houseboats that lie at anchor.

    In the evening we arrive at Jeffrey's* and Amelia's* favourite meadow near Berthelming and set up camp.

    * names changed    Read more

  • TravelerVagabonding
    Day 26

    Berthelming

    September 9, 2022 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    10 September

    As the day is very rainy, we decide to visit the Musee de la Guerre de 1870 et de l'annexion and brush up on German-French history.
    For me, the museum will be the first step in further museum visits. After a couple of hours, we leave the museum satisfied but hungry and get some pizza - there will be plenty of French delicacies later - and drive to the next meadow, which will accommodate us tonight.

    11 September

    It's time to say goodbye. Jeffrey* and Amelia* drive back to Germany after breakfast, for me the exciting part of my journey begins right here and now.
    I stand on the field for a minute and feel a sense of being alone for the first time: I'm in France, my friends have just left and I can't communicate exceptionally well.
    Then the familiar routine sets in and displaces this thought. I have to pack things, set off westwards (there is no exact destination at this point) and stock up on supplies.

    The adventure begins. 🇫🇷

    *names changed    Read more

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