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.