So yesterday i finally set off on my cycle, 11 days late, battered, bruised and blister footed, 11 days well spent, I regret nothing! After farting about, procrastinating for the day, I set off at around 6, which was a poor idea. Finding my way out of the sprawl that is Berlin was tricky enough, and of course i was under time pressure to get out of the city, so i could camp somewhere quiet. The bike felt fairly wobbly, with the added weight strapped to the back of it, so i went and bought a helmet! I managed to get to a spot next to a lake that seemed pretty secluded, although it was fairly dark when i got there. Somehow i managed to lose my sleeping bag along the way, i have no idea how! so i had to use my poncho/tarp and wrap it around my legs because i hadn't brought any pants, just shorts, brilliant. After cooking a bit of grub on the fire, and putting on pretty much all of my cloths to keep warm, i took advantage of the remnants of the super moon, this 25 second exposure was taken with only moon light. after the wind calmed down i wrapped myself up in my plastic blanket and tried to sleep.

 After getting asleep, I was woken up by a really loud, really scary train, and i was freezing, back to sleep, and the same story about an hour later, this went on for the night, wake up shitting a brick at the noise, wrap myself up really tight in the poncho and try again. I woke up at 4.45 and the moon was pretty sweet with the clouds. At this stage though, wearing anything i could, I was really really cold, so i light a fire, heating up some of last nights dinner, ate it and curled up on next to it. Also, the Germans like to go to work at this time, i got some pretty funny looks.

After a few more hours kip by the fire, i woke up to a nice bit of sun. adamant I could find my sleeping bag, i heading back the way i came to the last place i had my bag open, 7 km the wrong way, no joy. picked up a nice little sleeping bag and an espresso. Then it started to rain. this gal knows the craic with cycling in the rain, pity i have to hold on with both hands for dear life or the bike wobbles violently! note to self, get a touring bike. 

Sheltering in a cafe, i think one double espresso only get you so much internet, they're starting to give me looks. At least it looks like the sun is coming out, and i have a sleeping bag, they're defo important.