Notes from a two-day bike trip

In early May I took the bike out for two days along an old railway line that has been turned into a gravel path. The route is flat, quiet and about sixty kilometers each way, which made it a good first trip of the season.

I packed light: a spare tube, a small pump, a rain jacket and far too many snacks. The first morning was cold and foggy, but by ten the sun came through and the fields on both sides started to steam.

The best stretch was a long wooden bridge over a river valley. There is a bench in the middle, and I stayed there longer than planned just watching swallows work the water below.

On the way back a headwind picked up and the last twenty kilometers felt twice as long. Lesson learned: check the forecast for wind direction, not only for rain.

Next time I want to try the same trip in September when the evenings are warm and the trail is empty. I will bring a proper lock this time and a better map.