Sept 30 - Weinheim, Germany

Wrote letters after breakfast. After lunch I went to get a haircut. Mapped out Switzerland. Left for Weinheim at 6 pm. It's raining and blowing hard. Took the autobahn past Frankfurt to Weinheim. Arrived in town at 7:30 and went to a small German guesthouse. Mr. and Mrs Furtado, Willa and Stevie and I had Weinerschnitzel, wine, french fries, coffee and salad. An entertainer was there with accordion, xylophone, and piano. Arrived at the youth hostel high on a mountain overlooking the lighted city. The wind is blowing furiously up here. As I said goodbye again to friends and comfort, I felt a deep lonliness inside. I can easily see why a man must have friends.

Haircut .60
Book .95
Map 1.40
Hostel .30

Sept 29 - Bad Nauheim, Germany

[The image is a letter I wrote from Bad Nauheim to my parents in Lawton Oklahoma. On the right Patty Furtado and Yvonne Quinnett, whom I mention in the letter]

After breakfast I returned to my room and got a lot of writing done. FIgured out my course through Switzerland. Patty went babysitting and I continued reading throughout the afternoon. After dinner, Mr and Mrs Furtado, Stevie and I took a ride through Bad Nauheim and Friedberg. Checked out the train station about sending on the tent, bag and boots. Went to the top of a mountain overlooking the city. It's cold and drizzling out. Curses! Stopped for seven pizzas. By the time we returned home the wax paper was firmly attached to the cheese, so we ate the pizza and the paper both. Talked with Mr and Mrs Furtado until late, and retired.

Sept 28 - Bad Nauheim, Germany

Wrote a little after breakfast and worked on the bike. Took the bus to the AYA football game between Bad Nauheim and Hanau. Had hamburgers and french fries for lunch. Got home about 6 pm. Had dinner. That evening, had a long discussion with Pat. Got to bed late again.

Sept 27 - Bad Neuheim, Germany

[This is the Youth Hostel guest pass I purchased in Frankfurt, showing the youth hostel stamps from Germany, Italy, Switzerland and France]

Awoke early. Had breakfast and took the school bus to Frankfurt. Took the streetcar downtown. Repaired the wheel, checked for mail at the American Express office. Picked up a youth hostel guest pass, and walked through the city.

Took the streetcar back to school and caught the school bus back to Bad Nauheim at 3:30 pm. Washed up and had dinner. Took the American Youth Activities bus to Hanau for the Herman Hermit's party with Patty. The crowd was mainly older people, a very unresponsive and quiet crowd. The dance was all soule, the music, the dancing, and the kids. Home late.

Youth Hostel guest pass 5.50
Bike 1.00
Lunch 1.00
Map 1.70
Time Magazine .40

Sept 26 - Bad Nauheim, Germany

At 6 am I awoke with a loud "Guten Morgen" and a radio turned up. Ate breakfast and went to town to repair the wheel. Left it at the shop and walked around town. When I picked it up it went flat again so I left it and went back to the youth hostel. Sat around for a few hours. Had lunch and went back to town. Picked it up and went back to pack up. Left Giesson at 4:30. Arrived in Bad Nauheim at 5:30. My girlfriend from my hometown in Ft Sill, Oklahoma, lives in Bad Nauheim, where her father is stationed with the Army.

Washed up. Had dinner and went to see "Planet of the Apes" with Patty. Went to bed after snacks.

Mileage: Giessen to Bad Nauheim 80 km 21 mi

Breakfast .50
Lunch .15
Bike 1.00

Sept 25 - Kerstenhausen, Germany

Left Fritzler after breakfast. Beautiful weather. Just outside of Kerstenhausen the racing tire blew. I wheeled into Zwesten and unsuccesfully tried to repair it. Walked to Zimmersrode and took the train to Giessen. Got to the youth hostel about 6 pm. Went to see the town at night.

Mileage: Fritzler to Kerstenhausen 14 km 9 mi

Breakfast 1.00
Tube 2.75
Train 8.90
Dinner 2.80
Hostel 1.20
Mars bar 1.50
French Fries 1.50

$5.00

Sept 24 - Fritzlar, Germany

Ate breakfast and left in the rain. High winds and steep hills kept me in high gear today. Arrived in Hogeismer and cashed a check. Went on to Kassel, where I had to unpack and tighten my spokes. Bought five new spokes. Arrived at Fritzlar at 4 pm. Checked in and worked on the bike. I couldn't replace the spokes and in taking off the tire I punctured the tube. I put on the racing tire in hope of getting to Bad Nauheim on it where I can get the back wheel fixed. Took a short stroll through town. It's turning cold now. The town is beautiful, half-timbered buildings tower above the very narrow streets. The rain is slowly falling and only a few our out on this lonely night.

Mileage: Karlshafen to Fritzler 70 km

Spokes: .75 DM
Breakfast 1.50 DM
Mars Bar 1 DM
2 French Fries and Mars bar 1.60 DM
Hostel 1.20 DM
Hamburger 1.85 DM

$2.00

Sept 23 - Karlshafen, Germany

Had breakfast at the Youth Hostel and left for Karlshafen. The wind has died down but it's still cloudy. The country has changed to that of another land. Steep mountains line the river and tiny villages dot the land. It rains all the way into Karlshafen. Went out to see the town after settling down. Bought some stamps and walked through the little town. Just as I returned to the hostel a terrible thunderstorm passed over, turning day into night. Wrote letters. Ate dinner of oxtail soup and retired early. A boy from Berlin just arrived.

Mileage: Hameln to Karlshafen 77 km 50 mi

Breakfast 1.00 DM
Snacks 1.88 DM
Stamps 14 DM
Hostel 1.20 DM
Dinner 1.50 DM
French Fries .60 DM
Snacks 1.60 DM

$5.45

Sept 22 - Hameln, Germany

Arose and left. It's still overcast. Today I cycled against the cruelest winds I have ever seen. It was slow and hard work. What should have been a two hour trip took four hours. Arrived in Hameln. Looked at the youth hostel and then had some food and walked through downtown. The window displays in the narrow streets were very interesting. I wish I had a lot of money!

Mileage: Hannover to Hameln 46 km

Chocolate, ice cream 1.50 DM
Lunch 4.45 DM
Youth hostel 1.20 DM
Map .95 DM
Coffee 2.80 DM
$2.70

Sept 21 - Hannover, Germany

The brats were up at 7 am, so I ate breakfast and left at 8 am. Started raining right away. Arrived in Celle and had some snacks. It cleared off in the afternoon and the wind started blowing. Got into Hannover bone weary. Discovered the new tires I had strapped on the back had come loose and the rolling tire had worn two of the four I bought. Went to a German Scout's house and waited several hours for him. After finding out he was out of town I arrived at the youth hostel after dark. Had dinner of green pea and sausage soup. They're shooting display fireworks across the lake for the children to see. Wrote and retired.

Mileage: Muden to Hannover 74 km

Mars candy .25
Breakfast .05
Snacks .50
Youth Hostel .35
Dinner .50