Had a great afternoon in Heidelburg walking around the city,very laid back and nice sights. Had a good nights sleep on soft bed, a joy after camping. The next morning headed off to make some big km's and push on towards England.
Getting out of the city was straight forward enough but I had to navigate a series of autobahn interchanges around Mannhiem to head northwest. I realised that this could be an issue so before I left I wrote down road numbers & destinations and so as not to lost. Just before Mannheim I was to turn off to avoid going through the city but on approaching none of the exit signs gave my destination and I ended up in the city. What followed ended up being the most frustrating 2 hours as I was given the wrong directions (three times), got continously caught up in the bloody stupid one way systems (everyone knows that these are a total waste of time and are only there to steer you away from where you want to go!). For the first time on this journey I was swearing out loud inside my helmet and totally losing my rag, how hard can it be... I'm here (I think...) and I need to go here!!!
One guy told me " oh its easy you do a U turn and see that overbridge you take that and you just follow the road straight". I look and see that there is no on ramp to the overbridge so I would be stuck on a dual carrage way (wrong direction) and after looking at my compass realise that even if I could get on the overbridge it would take me straight to Heidelberg! Idiot!! By using the compass and pure luck I finally managed get myself on the autobarn I was looking for. Mannheim will be for ever etched in my memory. I really can't put into words how frustrating it was.
(by the way Rose I noticed Mannheim is twinned with Swansea Wales).
Germany is the only country I have been in where I found it necessary to have to write down place names and road numbers. Their road signage defies logic (so un-german) for example if you are in England you would have a sign saying A20/M20 Folkestone Ashford London. In Germany you will get a sign saying for example Koln and then 20km up the road it will say Frankfurt and you think I haven't got to Koln yet what happened am I on the right road.
Sorry to go on, but it was annoying.
Before I knew it I was entering the Netherlands and searched for a camping sight indicated on my map in a small village. I asked at a shop if they knew where it was, I knew I was close and on the right road. The owner said he had never heard of it and was really agressive, screwed up my map and told me to go! Wow whats his problem. I carry on up the road for about 500 metres and there it is on the right. Beautiful location in orchard and the lady owner tells me to help myself to as many apples and pears as I want and also takes me into a greenhouse where she is growing grapes and gives me a huge bunch. Had a real nice night camping there in lovely surroundings.