Give me a sign

It was cold for ages this morning. I got up because I needed to get to the next town so the lazy bugger at the bike shop could fix my bike. It looked like rain but it didn't come, just stayed cold. The bike shop opens at 10 and closes at 12 for a 3 hour long lunch, then opens at 3 and closes at 5. When I got there he kept me waiting for about 40 minutes while he had a bit of a family reunion, then said he can just fit me in before lunch. He charged me 35 euros to replace a tyre. I'm thinking I might need to get into that business.

I got going and it was smooth sailing to the next town which is Radolfzell but it all went pear shaped there. There are so many bike routes around here that they can't physically fit them on the signs, so the eurovelo 6 signs were few and far between. I knew that the route used to head north further into Germany, but the few ev6 signs kept taking me east. That would take me to Konstanz, where a bridge takes you back into Switzerland and on to Austria. I figured if I go that way, fine, but then I changed my mind for a few reasons. First, Switzerland is expensive, second, the route apparently gets really really hilly for 200km and third, I'd like to see Bavaria and possibly meet up with Brendan.

So I've stopped 6km the wrong way and discovered that I was supposed to turn to the north. I've been coughing and spluttering all day and it's gotten windy, so stuff it, that'll do for the day. A friendly German man tried to help me by reading the road signs. I can read the road signs myself and it didn't help. So he read them louder. I had to pretend that it had solved all my problems to stop him from pulling out a megaphone and screaming "Radolfzell 4km Konstanz 11km" at me.

I'll spend today washing my clothes and figuring out the route. Once I get to the Danube I'll be alright again. The route heads through Bavaria to the north of Munich and back down to Vienna in Austria.

That section is the most popular cycle route in the world so will probably be crowded. I bought a Lycra jacket so I fit in. There have been a lot of electric bikes. Probably as many as normal bikes. There are charging stations at the camp sites too. I want to try one out to see if they're any good. I've seen just as many of them being pushed up hills as normal bikes.

Finally, my older sister Shannon is with child. About time. I'm really excited to be an uncle or an aunty. She doesn't find out the gender for 8 weeks. Due in march. She said I can write it here but not on Facebook so that probably goes for you too. I know sometimes pregnant ladies get a little bit snappy and get mad at people for the smallest things. It will be really strange and unusual to see Shannon like that. I can't imagine it.

I haven't taken any photos, except for a litre of rum for 4 euros at aldi.