08/12/2021
Yes, I know. Yesterday is still undocumented, so I’ll try to at least outline today in small bites.
We had a relaxing night in the boathouse in Torgau today and got up at 7:30 a.m. to go to the “Radhaus” on time to have our whole vehicle checked. So here I am sitting and can write in peace while three kind, helpful men take care of all the small and large defects to ensure that we can continue our journey safely. Wow, they will only charge us for the material and have already promised us special conditions. Really classy!!! During the inspection, it was discovered, among other things, that our tandem suspension fork had been installed the wrong way round.
Now everything is repaired and all for a coffee cup. Simply amazing! We are lucky despite all the failures and breakdowns.
Later: We are currently filming a report for MDR at the castle in Torgau, after we have already experienced funny scenes in the workshop. A journalist from MZ has also just turned up. We really can’t get away…
4:00 a.m.: We’re still filming just outside Torgau. If things continue like this, it will be the longest media marathon rather than the longest piano transport.
Intermediate result after 25 kilometers to Torgau
Wow, it’s 4:40 p.m. and we’ve taken our second five-minute break to cool off in a lake. That was absolutely necessary! The MDR cameraman didn’t let us leave until 3:00 p.m. Let’s hope it was worth it. (The article will be in the Journal tomorrow at 2 p.m.)
So we’ve just cycled 25 kilometers in an hour and a half. We’re finally making some progress, but flat paths and well-paved roads make it possible, and of course the feeling of having a safe, thoroughly checked car. Lutherstadt Wittenberg – we’re coming! They’re waiting for us there at 8 p.m. Wow, we still have to pedal, there are still over 40 kilometers to go.
6:30 pm and nine kilometers from the gates of Wittenberg
We’re so drunk, you wouldn’t believe it. The sun has been shining mercilessly all day and despite our straw hats and a good headwind, we have to drink litres of water. We’ve now managed to shorten the route by around twelve kilometres by driving along the B 186. We’ll definitely make it on time, because of course the press will be waiting in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, including a group with historic bicycles. It’s going to be exciting. Apart from exhaustion, there’s really only one huge problem: our bottoms hurt so much that we can hardly sit down! Oh man, but: grit your teeth and get going!
We arrived at the market in Lutherstadt Wittenberg at exactly 7:30 pm
Wow, that was the first day of our trip where everything went smoothly, we had no downpours, no broken chains or flat tires. On the contrary, we finally managed to cover the full distance (approx. 60 km) that we had planned for each day and in a record-breaking time of four and a half hours.
A few people were already waiting at the market with their old or refurbished bicycles to welcome us.
Of course, we immediately sat down at the piano and, sweating and physically exhausted, gave our concert of the day. Yes, this time it couldn’t really be considered a nature concert, but we finally managed to do the live stream for the first time.
Just eat and go to bed
After an hour we were just looking forward to eating because we hadn’t found the time to have a proper breakfast and hadn’t eaten anything except a few sandwiches with cheese and tons of water. After a well-deserved visit to the Italian restaurant we drove to the apartment of a friend of one of Andreas’ former students. (Wow, what a sentence 😉 )
We are invited to sleep at her place today and feel at home. Even the Tastdem has found a place in the garage and is now safe and dry. So it can go to sleep with peace of mind.
Next entry: Good morning everyone and everything that hurts
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