Bakery goodies and some coffee and trundled (drunkenly, probably) around the Schanzenviertel area. I like these dingy, grafitti-covered areas. There’s so much interesting art to see and no suits into their daily grind. Graf, stencil art, posters, stencilled posters, people with so many piercings they are more machine than man (or woman). It’s a place where a bum like me probably doesn’t look out of place (like Amsterdam). Bikes here are plentiful and heaps more interesting than the million “Holland” bikes in NL. Roadies, MTB’s, cruisers, hacks, new and old, modded and vanilla..

The yellow Deutsche Post bikes are funky! They have large racks front and rear with bags in both. The front has bars going down to a crossbar behind the front wheel. On the crossbar are smaller wheels either side of the front wheel. So, you stop pedaling and the bike wont tip over because it’s has these extra wheels! Noice!

Almost hit a car yesterday. I mean, I can totally understand a driver not being able to see 100 kilos of red and yellow, lycra-clad cyclist on the bike path! Here’s a tip: Driving? Open your eyes!

Wrote a letter to Grant and Sheila, so they can pick up my parcel, whilst sitting in “Balzac” cafe drinking iced coffee. Yeah, I was in “Ball Sack” cafe for coffee..

When I posted it, I was assisted by a staffer. I needed an envelope and you can only buy “25” packs. While discussing this with the helpful staffer, a guy who had just finished whatever he was doing, walked past and handed me an envelope! How fucking cool is that! I know it’s only an envelope but that was so cool – you fscking rock man!

Booked a bed in the Instant Sleep hostel’s “Hall of Dreams”. An ironic name considering this room is a dorm of 25 beds! It is just up the road from my current hostel and good value at 15euro per night plus a once-off 2euro sheet charge. Dunno why I am so happy now? It could have something to do with running low on brain sugar but with what I eat I find that almost impossible to believe. I think I’m just a moody fscker. Maybe as soon as I get back on the bike I’ll get mad again? Hope not.

One bike shop I visited wanted 20-30euro to true the back wheel. Had the guy been able to read my mind, he would’ve heard a very pronounced “30euro? Get FUCKED!” rather than the “I might be back later” that I actually said.

Walked into town taking photos of the freaks, the bikes, the Dom (same style as Cologne’s but nowhere near as impressive).

Spent 4 hours online planning train rides and trying unsuccessfully to upload photos. A laptop would’ve been great right now.. of course, it never would’ve survived this far into the trip!

Dined in “Taverna Romana” – Calzone (6.50), “Schofferhofer Weizen” beer (3.00), 50cl of course!

English menu, english speaking waitress, english speaking guests.. Germany? Where?