Day 10: A sleepy start and a relaxed day

The eighth day of our cycling tour began in an unplanned, almost comical way: with silence. No hectic activity, no early clattering of bags – only the steady breathing of sleepy cyclists. We had all overslept. Every single one of us – even Mr. Bock, who is usually the first one up by far, had ended up back in bed, or rather, on his sleeping mat.

Shortly after nine o’clock, life finally stirred in the scout house in Emmen. Sleepily, we crawled out of our beds, threw together a quick breakfast, and hastily packed our bags while the owner of the accommodation made a watchful inspection. Then at last, we set off – a little chaotic, but in good spirits.

Today we didn’t ride as one big caravan but split into two smaller teams. The roads stretched quietly ahead of us, with little traffic, and the Dutch landscape showed itself one last time from its most beautiful side. Flat fields reached all the way to the horizon, cut through by canals. Wind turbines slowly turned their blades in the morning light, and the fresh smell of damp grass accompanied us all the way to the border.

The first stage had a clear goal: after about 20 kilometers we wanted to stop at a supermarket along the route. Everyone was eager to stock up on Dutch treats one last time before Germany’s familiar discount chains awaited us. The decision was unanimous: off to Jumbo! For the group that had set off first, there was a surprise: they were caught up by the other team. A small detour had cost them their lead. After everyone had stocked up on rolls, snacks, apple spritzers, and Chocomel, we continued on.

The second stage gradually led us toward Germany. The wind picked up, though never unpleasantly – almost as if it wanted to give us a push. With every kilometer, the scenery grew more familiar: fewer canals, more tree-lined roads, and small villages with red-tiled roofs. The scent of freshly cut grass hung in the air. Without any incidents, we eventually reached our accommodation: a youth campsite in Dörpen that pleasantly surprised us. Instead of rickety showers, we found solid sanitary facilities – after a long day on the bike, almost a little luxury. And the sun welcomed us back “home” in Germany.

After a shower and a change of clothes, the day suddenly felt much lighter. Some spent their free time playing cards, others stretched their legs or chatted. In the evening, a small group set off to Edeka to buy bread, cold cuts, and a few extras for dinner. Clemens also had to make a quick trip there – while most of the group, especially the older ones, happily accepted the poor mobile reception, it meant no chance to update our blog. And that, of course, was out of the question. Even though the store’s customer Wi-Fi was barely functional and it took nearly an hour to upload a text and some photos, this little challenge was also mastered.

Dinner was self-organized in small groups, with a wide variety of dishes: from pasta with tomato sauce to potato salad with sausages, and even the unusual combination of baked beans with potato dumplings. As the early autumn chill crept in, we sat close together, warming ourselves with food and conversation.

Not everything about the day was carefree, though. Cedrik still had no luck with his bike. No shop could or would help, so he took a long train ride to the next town – all in vain. In the end, there was no other choice: he had to abandon the tour and return to Hamburg by train. He had to give up his bike, heavy-hearted. For the group, it was a quiet, sad moment in the middle of an otherwise pleasant stage.

One advantage of the poor mobile reception, however, revealed itself later: at night, we were treated to a special sight – a clear starry sky, the kind you rarely ever see in the city.