Days 11-14: 18.06.-21.06.24, a few kilometres and metres
When I stop, time flies. Five full days in Hamburg, which I felt had been well spent, but then quickly passed.
Context-free snapshot: over a coffee and a Franzbrötchen (elbgold!) I let myself be captivated by Martin Suter. I was given The Dark Side of the Moon as a present in the Lüneburg Heath. It’s a book that touched me, that I took with me on my travels, but that also leaves a lot to be categorised.
Franzbrötchen and book luck!
I had taken some work home with me. The analyses from the last few years had to be handed over to someone else. A small (?) amount of programming still had to be done before I could finally say goodbye to it. I had been working on it for two weeks, then the server was down for the weekend. As soon as I realised that, I rushed off. So 988 km of laptop shaking. In addition to the programming, there were also accounts to be processed and similar things. I can only concentrate on it to a limited extent, so I will hand it in more or less correctly.
Other people I love have also ended up in Hamburg. I’m meeting my godfather Christian for dinner. It’s nice that, in addition to our family ties, mountains, adventure and being outdoors also connect us.
Christian!
I met Basti on the street in Hamburg when I was last in the city in 2020. He was about to move to Dresden, like the person I was with at the time. We stayed in touch. In Dresden, Berlin, and now Hamburg, we have met again over the past few years. He cooks me a super delicious omelette. He has such a loving, committed world-improver, which makes me happy.
Such a lovely breakfast!
I also use Hamburg as the last planned stop for thorough material maintenance. I modify and add to the bags so that they wobble less. I repair the piezo igniter of my stove. I throw everything through the washing machine, sew holes in my clothes.
Repairing the piezo igniter!
My bike is getting a lot of love: I’m having the entire drive replaced. The chainring that broke off at Roth is screaming to be replaced. Two bike shops in Hannover have already failed to remove my crank set for this - apparently it takes a very specific tool. The first bike shop near me to answer the phone says it will be able to convert it for me in no time. Andalusian Bike Store. A team of two best friends (I’m sorry, but I can’t remember their names, my brain is still tired) run this tiny shop. He repairs the bikes, she does the rest. When I pick up the bike, the boss tells me that she had to phone all over Hamburg to find the tool. I hear that the boss had to get creative in a Syrian way. But they found a solution. I am delighted with this gem, which is the result of so much passion.
Look after your bike yourself!
My repaired bike and me at the bike shop!
With a new drive and coffee in my system, I head for a second bike shop: this one offers saddle advice. So far, my seat has been my biggest weakness. Rene from Harry’s Rad Station explains to me in great detail what can be wrong with an unsuitable saddle. It is really important to him that I sit correctly on the bike and saddle, so he adjusts both until it fits. This shop is also a pleasure to visit and seems to have become an institution in the neighbourhood. I continue my journey with a smile on my face and my seat bones in good hands.
Lolly!
New saddle!
Marei and her boyfriend are kindly putting up with me in their flat for so long. It’s so nice to just coexist with Marei. We go on a fish sandwich trip to the harbour, play games, cook. In my work breaks, we play Mario Kart, and I swear loudly when I crash again. She leaves me water, tea and nuts when I work late.
Board game fun!
Fish rolls!
It will probably be a late night before I finally say goodbye to two years of work in Oxford and London. What I will be leaving behind feels heavier than the 1.3kg that the laptop officially weighs.