The test ride

 In late August 2026 I will be riding from the Southernmost to the Northernmost tips of Germany.

This is an adventure I've been thinking of doing for several years and I've finally booked a flight to Bavaria. I will doing the ride in memory of my son James who passed away in 2024 and also to raise awareness of Organ Donation. You can read more here

I will mostly be camping, so I needed to try out my bike and equipment. So I set out on a 50 mile ride into Kent, carrying everything I will need for a 2 week ride in Germany.

My trust Dawes Galaxy

I am taking my trusty Dawes which I got in 2010 and is built for this type of ride. I have ridden Lands End to John O Groats and several other long distance rides on it.


My camping spot for the night


I stayed at a quiet campsite in Westwell, near Ashford. All my kit worked fine and although the bike was heavy I coped with some steep hills.

The tent is a bit heavy, but has plenty of room. I'm still in two minds whether to use a different one.


The following morning I rode home via the Pilgrims Way. This mural is on the side of the newly reopened Dirty Habit pub.

The Dirty Habit

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Introduction

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In late August 2026 I will be riding from the Southernmost to the Northernmost tips of Germany. This is an adventure I've been thinking of doing for several years and I've finally booked a flight to Bavaria. I will doing the ride in memory of my son James who passed away in 2024 and also to raise awareness of Organ Donation. You can read more here I will be riding around 1,000 miles over a period of 2 weeks and most of the route will be on the road. Although the first day will include a hike without my bike to the Mountain where the border with Austria is.
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Getting to the start

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Getting to Germany was always going to be a challenge, particularly when you are taking a bike and luggage. So all credit to Ryanair for a great journey. We landed ahead of schedule in Memmingen, which they optimistically describe as Munich West, although it over a 100km away. Bike box and luggage. I found a quiet corner of the airport where I could unpack and put my bike together. After an hour or so I was ready to go. As a bonus it had also stopped raining and it was only a couple of miles downhill to the station. I got told off for trying to take my bike into the booking office. But I was then kindly taken through the process  of buying separate tickets for both me and the bike, which I never would have done on my own. On the train to the Alps Overall it was an easy journey and it wasn't long before I was in Oberstdorf, Germany's Southernmost village. My bed for the night I camped next to the railway, with great views of the Alps in the background.
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Day 9 Into BAOR

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I left this morning in drizzle. Fortunately the wind was behind me and it was mainly downhill. I only made one diversion off the main road and came across this statue of the Old Man of Müssenberg. Apparently he is a  Guardian to the Needy: Unlike malicious mythical figures, the Old Man is celebrated as a "friend to good children" and a helper to those in desperate need. Local lore details stories of him appearing to lost or impoverished travelers, offering them physical healing herbs, money, and comfort. All I wanted was the rain to stop and he didn't help me. He didn't help with the puncture I got a little later either. I had to fix this in the pouring rain, which was less than ideal. Most punctures occur in the rain as the rain makes bits of debris stick to the tyre and after a couple of revolutions the puncture has happened. In this case it was a chunk of glass. i was making my way to the Mohne dam made famous by the 1955 film the Dambusters...
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