Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

4/24/60

Hello, everyone-

George has been back from his bicycle trip for some time- has even spent a weekend in Paris- but we will start telling you about his trek and the rest will follow along soon.

March 16th.

First a little unpleasent business then the more pleasant news of our trip. I am writing this from the youth hostel in Hamburg. Last night we stayed here and left our bikes parked out in the rack outside. This AM mine was gone- STOLEN. Naturally I had to buy one to replace it which we did this morning after reporting the theft to the police. Our equipment was all inside so no problems there.

Our trip so far has been quite interesting although the best part (Holland) I think, is still to come. We got away Saturday about 3 PM after two days of finishing up Anthropology papers, packing etc. We went through Schorndorf then turned northward in the general direction of Schwabisch Hall. That was to be our destination for the night but we ran in to some pretty rough country- woods, creeks, steep hills- much like the Black Forest and very pretty. We had to push our bikes up each hill then ride down and push up the next. It was reallt [really] exhausting work, especially on our first day when we finally quit about 8 PM. Stopped at a gas station and got directions to a nearby farmhouse. Here they showed us a summer cabin with a covered porch, roof (n walls of course) where we spread our sleeping bags for the night. We have about four days food packed with us and will replenish as we go. Just about froze about morning and probably won't sleep outside again if we can avoid it. We need the rest to make the mileage we want to. Anyway, up at 6:30, load up and on the way- about a mile of pushing uphill and then the summit at last! From here mostly down or flat all the way to Schwabach Hall. We went through Althuate, Gaildorf, sometimes coasting at 30 miles per hour. Along the way we passed thru [through] farmland as well as forest. Saw many small villages much like Beutelsbach. This is the sort of thing that small roads and villages as well as the cities.

From Schwabach Hall we took a train to Rothenberg to save time and energy. There we took our gear to the youth hostel and set out for a few hours look at the town. It is a famous tourist center though not in this season, of course. Because it is an authentic mecieval city bounded by the high walls, standing on steep bluffs, overlooking the Tauber river. Must have been an impregnable fortress in those days.

Sitting on a bunk in the cool (unheated) youth hostel in Oldenberg, having jyst [just] finished a very pleasant leisurely meal in a nearby gastatte (small restaurant-beer hall).

Back to Rothenberg- It was a lovely sunny day and we strolled down the narrow streets. Saw the Rathaus (city hall), went in to one of the churches which had two beautiful wood carved altar pieces (about 1500) from the German Renaissance. Stopped by the walls to look out over the river and valley. Then at dusk we found a small woodpaneled gastatte, had dinner by candlelight.

16. 3. 60

Dear Folks -

First a little unpleasant business, then the more pleasant news of our trip. I'm writing this from the youth hostel in Hamburg. Last night we stayed here and left our bikes parked in the rack outside; this morning mine was gone - stolen. The bike belonged to the Krauters in Beutelsbach, so I feel doubly bad about. Naturally I had to buy one to replace it, and this we did this morning, after reporting the theft to the police. The cost of the replacement was 120 marks, and I think you could safely set the value of the Krauters' bike at $35.00. I hope the family insurance (ours, not theirs) covers this sort of theft, as you mentioned before. If it does we can get the $35 back; otherwise, unless the Krauters have insurance, we're out that much money. Our equipment was all inside, so no problems there. The bike was not locked because I left the key in Beutelsbach - too bad and stupid of course, but it's done now. After lunch here, we're going on as planned, by train to Oldenburg tonight if possible. So let me know by the mail whether anything can be done. Even though technically I didn't own the bike, it was my responsibility, and I had to buy the replacement, so I think this should be considered "personal property", don't you?

Our trip so far has been quite interesting, although the best part (Holland, I think) is still to come. We got away Saturday about 3 pm after 2 days of finishing up anthro papers, packing, etc. We went through Schorndorf, then turned northward in the general direction of Schwäbisch Hall (hope you have good maps of Germany for all this geography). That was to be our destination for the night, but we ran into some pretty rough country - woods and creeks, steep hills, much like the Blackforest and very pretty. We had to push our bikes up each hill, then ride down, push up the next. It was really exhausting work (especially on our first day) and we finally quit about 8 pm, stopped at a gas station and got directions to a nearby farmhouse. There they showed us a summer cabin with a covered porch (roof, no walls of course) where we spread our sleeping bags for the night. We ate a light snack (we have about 4 days food packed with us, will replenish as we go) then turned in, just about froze by morning (frost on the pumpkin!) and probably won't sleep outside again if we can avoid it. We need the rest to make the mileage we want to. Anyway, up at 6:30, load up and on the way - about a mile of pushing up hill and then the summit at last. From here mostly down or flat all the way to Schwäbisch Hall (we went through Althütte, Gaildorf), sometimes coasting at 30 mph! Along the way we passed through farmland, as well as forest, saw many small villages much like Beutelsbach. This is the sort of thing that makes bikes better than cars, for we really do see the countryside, and the small roads and villages as well as the cities.

From Schwäbisch Hall we took a train to Rothenburg, to save time and energy. There we took our gear to the youth hostel and set out for a few hours look at the town. It is a famous tourist center (though not in this season of course) because its an authentic medieval city, bounded by the high walls, standing on steep bluffs overlooking the Tauber river. Must have been an impregnable fortress in those days.