Fulda and wrong navigation in Gö.tzenhof

September 18

Tough climbs to Fulda

I set my mobile alarm for 5:30 AM. It is pitch black outside, and I feel a few drops of drizzle falling, so I hurry to pack up.

I carefully make my way down the mountain, taking a different route than the one I climbed yesterday. Once at the base, I cycle to a Netto store, where the bakery and café are open. There, I order a coffee and a roll filled with something savory and meat-like.

Before cycling out of town, I change into rain gear; the drizzle has picked up a bit. Navigating out of town is easy, but cycling isn’t. A diabolically long hill—nearly 7 km—nearly breaks me.

Around ten o’clock, I pedal into Vacha, only to find my grand plan thwarted by a closed route. After some impromptu cartography, I roll into a large park, where a towering man in green—who, thankfully, is made of stone—stands frozen in eternal pride.

I need a break and a water refill; my legs are feeling worn out. The sun has come out now, though, so the rain gear goes back into the bag.
The climbs are relentless; I have to struggle up several tough hills, and on top of that, I’m facing a headwind.

As the clock nears 1:00 PM, I start planning a coffee break. Eiterfeld will be my stop; I choose a roadside café and bakery.

I just buy a coffee and sit outside at one of the three available tables. I take out my cooler bag and help myself to sandwiches and eggs. Before setting off, I pop into the café to charge my phone while using the restroom.

Just as I’m about to pedal away, the young woman at the bakery surprises me with two soft, jam-filled cookies—completely free of charge. Naturally, it’s a moment worth capturing in a photo.

By the time I finally ride off, it has started to cloud over, but it doesn’t look like rain, so my rain gear stays packed away.
Approaching Götzenhof, my GPS cheerfully guides me straight onto a highway like it’s the scenic route. The chorus of honking cars and trucks quickly clues me in that I might be the main act in today’s traffic comedy.

Just before the exit, a police car with flashing lights and blaring sirens makes a dramatic entrance. After a stern lecture about my unintended highway performance, I blame my overconfident GPS. Mercifully, I’m sent on my way without a ticket—just a bruised ego.

After a bit of maneuvering, I find the bike path, which leads me to Fulda. I arrived there just after 4:30 PM. I stop in the city center for a beer, sit for half an hour, and map out the route to the campsite I’ve picked out.
It is located about 5 km outside the city.

It’s a public area belonging to a residential neighborhood, featuring green spaces, barbecue spots, tables, chairs, swings, and climbing frames for the kids.
I find a good spot near some bushes and close to the tables. It’s a pretty perfect place to camp.

Looks like a sleeing bear

View over Fulda from Schzenberg, my tentcamp place