Me and you mate.

It's coming to the end. Its Ibeen me and you mate, all the way. Me and you.

Both feeling the pace, Barkley more than me. He needs stability, an end to this journey together.

Sitting in a coffeeshop drinking the free coffee they occasionally make for me. They've been good to me. Tired, sleeping who kows where tonight, Barkley is making most of the owners kindness by letting him sit on the seat next to me.

Hope all goes well tomorrow. Money is tight, I don't want to even consider having problems with Barkley in newcastle.1 hour left then I need to find somewhere to grab some shuteye.

Me and you mate, all the way.Me and you.

Goodnight

Amsterdam's Labyrinth

Having travelled It's100s of miles over a 48 HR period I was absolutely knackered, it look me another few hours to get outside the City. Its becoming difficult due to the environment and costs of accommodation. At an average of over 100€ a night for a 3star ( if your lucky ) l to travel 60 miles or so to the next town to find any vegitation at all. Amsterdam isn't a well planned out city, each turning looks like the next, its easy to get lost. Its a wonder anyone gets home after a night out and the locals aren't forever finding corpses laying openly on the streets due to them wandering around in a weed induced semi coma, until they drop out of confusion and exhaustion only to be found days later.

The only tree withing 67 furlongs of Amsterdam's Labyrinth

Day 44

And we are off!

Thanks to Scheibel and Jonas for help me with the tools and space to fix my bike.

It's over. Not 10 miles after the desert the same problem hit me again. I'm now in a hotel and tomorrow I'm on my way to Hamburg. With a broken hand and the cold weather rolling in. The already difficult Germany has become too much. Rather than spend another week on repairs I've decided my mom needs me more than I need this trip. 

It's over.

Day 30 fast forward to 43

Day 30 to day 43

While I waited on a new wheel, which was a task in itself, I managed to explore the beautiful town of Lütjenburg.

Wet through after been caught in the rain during a walk.

During our walk we found many beautiful places and things to take pictures of.

Lütjenburg is like being shrunk down and placed in a miniature railway village. Absolutely beautiful.

Although not ideal, being able to stay here while I regrouped has saved the whole trip. I called it my five star hotel. Conny let me stay here for free while I got sorted out. Electric a barbecue and a roof over my head during the intermittent downpours. 

Me, Conny and Kevin. I can't thank them enough for letting me stay while I got sorted. 

Tomorrow I should be back on the road.

Goodnight.

Day 28. German women. Strong, beautiful and kind.

Good morning.

Alo is taking me to town with the back wheel to see if it can be repaired. If it's not the thing rattling around then it's the controller. If it's affordable then I'll fix it, if not then I'll have to figure out what to do with the bike and get the train home.

The rattle was a spoke that had dropped inside of the wheel frame.

Waiting for bike shop to pick up the bike.

A sorry sight.

Thank you ladies for everything. :)

When I left with my bike in the van the driver told me the women were very nice to me, and I agreed. He said that one had a quiet word with him before we left. He told me that the they whispered to him privately that if I could not afford to pay for the bike repairs, that he should contact them and they would pay the bill. I was taken aback by this. Such kindness and generosity. But I don't think it was only that, I think if was much more. During the time I spent with them we spoke about the tails I'd encountered so far and the reasons for me doing this. They understood it was a dream and I believe their kindness was to ensure it didn't end in this lovely village in the north of Germany. I believe they want me to complete this journey as much as I do. 

We arrived at the bike repair shop and after a quick check the news wasn't good. It's almost certain both the back wheel and controller need replacing. An expencive thing, but not only that, the parts could only be bought in China and getting things from China isn't a net day, week or sometimes even months delivery. The Owners son was the one with the best English and the one helping me. Staying until after the normal closing time to try give me hope he eventually exhausted all possibilities. His only solution to replace the wheel with a non standard one not viable he helped search for a place for me to get my head down. 

We found a pension, a hostel type accommodation which I found using Google maps. I knocked on the door to be greeted by a jolly looking lady. She called someone over to help translate and was told it was no longer taking customers as it had been sold. I asked and was granted permission to hang my hammock in the garden. The translator was called Chris, the son in law of the owner on holiday paying a visit with his family. We quickly became friends, sharing a beer and exchanging stories of our travels, him spending 10 years in America and Italy. He helped me set up camp then spent the rest of the night talking around a campfire with a few beers and roasting the pork belly I had bought the day before. Time seemed to fly and it was late before we both turned in for the night, with him promising to help in the morning should I need it.

Goodnight.

Day 27 Error 9

August

Good 

Morning!

Woke up to a downpour, had to jump out of the sack to cover Barkley with the storm tent.

The sleeping bag floor cover I was under saved me from getting soaked, but I had to jump back in after the Barkley Res he mission and brought half the beach with me. Not nice but better than getting drenched.

Sad Sunflower

Broken down again, error code 9. Either the controller is fried or something has shook loose in the ewheel.

There's an electric bike shop 8 km away, maybe I can get to that by the time it opens tomorrow.

As luck would have it 2 women cycled up to me and asked if I had problems.  They were very helpful and took my bike back to their home and let me stay the night. They rent part of their house out as it a holiday area. I'm not complaining as they let me stay for free, anyway €95 for the first night and 65 after that would be too steep for me, but apparently cheap for the area. They have all the tools to take a look at the bike but getting the back wheel on and off is a two man job so I think I'll wait until tomorrow to speak to this bike repair man they know of. Hopefully it's an easy repair and not the controller like I fear. Will have to wait and see, but for now I think I'm going to recover some energy.

Alo, made some vegitarian food, it was delicious. Garlic fried potatoes and Salad with Apple, avocardo and zucchini + many other bits of wholesomeness with a homemade dressing, it was quite simply the best vegitarian meal I'd ever had.

They have made me feel very welcome here  I'm in deep gratitude, virtually giving me the run of the house. 

I've managed to take the wheel off the bike and noticed something rattling around. I'll see better when I take it to the bike shop Monday, tomorrow.

If the bike cannot be repaired I will go with them to the train station, sad as it may be, my journey will end here.

Tonight's camp.

Beautiful house.

Washed and fed, time for bed.

Goodnight.