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October 16 Monday overcast Bicycle touring Germany Before Claudia left for work in the morning, she stopped by to make sure we had food for breakfast. She put on a video "How the West was Lost." "Are you sure you don't want to stay longer?" Claudia asked us before leaving in her sports car. Everyone is so hospitable that we are going to have trouble cycling around the world. At this rate we won't get out of Germany. As Claudia often says: "Too much fun!" Somehow we managed to load up our touring bikes and break free. We cycled off, waving to our new friends. In Ansbach we pulled our laden bicycles to a halt to try some of the monks' beer. Before trying the beer, we toured the cloister. Once again there was tons of gold. Then it was off to the restaurant to check out the monks' beer-making skills. I tried a stein of Dinklesbock dark beer with 13% alcohol. It was slightly bitter. Patrons at the table next to us, kidded me. "You can drink two," they told me. "But not three." I smiled. After quaffing one baby, I didn't think it would be wise to have even one more. Not unless the monks didn't mind having some slightly inebriated touring cyclists set up on their lawn for the night. The women delivering the beer are sturdy lasses with large Birkenstocks. One massive bar wench delivered eight beer steins in one go - four per hand. Man, one is heavy! I can't imagine eight! Want to work here? Let's see how large your biceps are. Got a good grip? Beer mugs - even when empty - make for a heavy souvenir. Especially so when one is cycling. That didn't stop Sherry, though. She wanted to buy two. That is, if I would carry them for her. She was a little put off when I refused. Politely, of course. Crikey. The steins must hold a litre each and weighed as much as a good-sized rock. I finally convinced her to settle for beer coasters as souvenirs instead. (She later returned with Sharon's brother, Murray, in the van and bought a couple of steins. They sit happily on a mantle in their St Albert home.) We had a tough uphill through a farmer's field. Not only was the beer having an effect on our legs, but the uphill was steep as well. My bicycle panniers felt extra heavy. Probably all of those beer coasters burdening our panniers. I'll bet Sherry is glad she didn't buy two of those weighty steins now. Saw a milking station in the field. That's more like it! Bring the milk house to the cows. The milking station included a trough where the cows line up for chow. While they're busily chewing away, the farmer sneaks up behind them and drains their udders into a portable milk container. Seems like a lot better deal for the cows than being chained to a stall night and day for their entire life. Hans and Ute, our next bicycle host family, live in a large house they are remodeling. Hans works at the university in Munich. Ute is a doctor. Their son Paul is in Kindergarten. They had a friend visiting from Canada. His name is Hans as well. It caused a little confusion. When Sherry had phoned and asked for Hans, as specified in the bicycle touring host list, she added she was from Canada. Naturally, they gave the phone to their friend Hans. Apparently, at the conclusion of Sherry's phone call, it took them some time to figure out what had happened. |
