Day 1: First stage via stairs, train stations and toilet adventures

The first group set off from the main station at 6:37 a.m. Who do you think got up earliest? Jonas, by far – at 3:30 a.m.!

The first problem wasn't long in coming: a message from Tom Yo –

‘Yo, the lift at our platform isn't working.’

So that meant hoisting our bikes onto our shoulders and carrying them down the stairs. We definitely won't be winning any beauty contests for that.

Everything went according to plan until we reached Osnabrück. Once there, we encountered the next hurdle: our train was two hours late. So we took a break in the waiting room. Johanna, Trixie and Tom Yo were quickly taught how to play Doppelkopf. After waiting for two and a half hours and playing several rounds of Doppelkopf, we were caught up by the second group, which had left at 9 a.m.

After a wonderful three hours in the waiting room, we finally took a tourist train to Hengelo – welcome to the Netherlands! But the next train brought the next problem: only one bicycle compartment for a maximum of four bikes. Tom Yo, Theresa, Jonas and Trixie had made it – the tour for the four of them continued on their own for the time being, while everyone else split up between the next two trains.

Message from Bocki to the group of four:

‘Travel as far as you can – we'll meet at the hostel.’

So the next two hours on the train turned into another adventure: a very unfriendly train attendant, lots of irritated Dutch people, and the request to remove our luggage from the bicycles – Jonas was particularly ‘delighted’ about this message.

On the next train, the question of our tickets arose. Bocki was called – and the next problem was not long in coming: the tickets apparently did not match and only three bicycles were actually allowed in the compartment. We were facing an €80 fine! Fortunately, the train attendant was nice this time and we were allowed to continue.

Finally, we reached the next station and our destination. The only problem was how to get out of the station when there were ticket barriers. Fortunately, Tom Yo found a nice railway employee who let us through.

The way to the hostel was surprisingly easy – the group of four could finally relax. The rest of the members arrived within the next 45 minutes. In the meantime, Tom Yo needed to use the toilet so badly that he had to test it out. The problem was that you needed a room card to leave the toilet – which we didn't have yet, of course. So Tom Yo had to be ‘rescued’ first.

The first day of the ‘Mit Boch aufm Bock’ tour ended with an unexpectedly good dinner and a few relaxing hours. Good night!