Heilbronn to Schwaebisch Hall

Thursday was another holiday and another predicted hot day with thunderstorms and heavy rains predicted for later in the day. Consequence for me: another early start. This time I was on the road already at 7 AM!!! and it was already warm.

Since it was a holiday, almost nobody was on the streets and I found my way easily out of Heilbronn.

I knew the whole route would be hilly, no matter which of the options I took , so I prepared myself for some long slow climbs.

The first climb was already right after leaving the city limits of Heilbronn and was supposedly just a "little" ascent, in comparison to the long steep climb after Loewenstein but nevertheless I cycled up and up and up....luckily in the forest and it also started to drizzle a little bit for cooling ;-)

Shortly after I didn't see any cycling signs anymore and orientated on the hiking trails....so I came to the unplanned pleasure of a climb through a vineyard through coarse gravel, a good test for my shape, physically and mentally - and I was doing fine....so fine that I didn't even take a picture ...but just cycled on :-)

Afterwards I cycled about half an hour through the forest, being way off the planned route, but finally I found the way to Loewenstein where the exciting part of the day took part.

When you grow up in this area, you know about the long climb into (or out of) Loewenstein and the hills following, so I decided that this challenge should make up for the tram ride the day before and was a little excited how "bad" it would be.

I guess the worst part was finding the cycling route because the lower part was really steep. The actual cycling part up to the castle and further on was a long but not too steep climb for about half an hour or so and was just half as bad as the ascent through the vineyard before. At 9:15 AM I was already up at the Platte which is a lookout where especially motorcyclists meet to have a coffee or a hot snack.

I happily cycled on, the big challenge of the day already behind me. I got closer and closer to home while the clouds above me became darker and darker.

I passed Wuestenrot, Ammertsweiler, Mainhardt and Huetten and found my way to Michelfeld which is really almost already home.

I quickly visited Starkholzbacher See, the lake where we go swimming in summer, before finally heading home where I arrived just in time for lunch :-) - and right before the first raindrops started to fall.

My mum took six photos of me when I arrived - and one looked worse than the other....aaaaaargh.....

Soooooooooo no nice arrival picture of me, sweaty and dusty between all my bags :-D

Maybe I'm luckier at one of my next stops ;-)

I'm going to stay here for at least two weeks, so don't be surprised if there are not a lot new posts. ;-)