Setting off from Berlin

Been a hectic three days but all in all a great experience. I even accidentally discovered the "delights" of Bernau - got on the wrong train, should have been Bernauerstrasse.

British airways delayed the delivery of my bike box to Berlin (checking for drugs and bombs)

but as compensation delivered it to my doorstep for free.

Bianca (friend of a friend) guided me through the first day and a half, helped me acclimatise and generally got things sorted out. Cool, calm and efficient. This girl has also had the *pleasure* of working in outer regional australia (Emerald, QLD) - she needs a medal for enduring that hardship! People like this are few and far between.

The hostel (Jetpak, Dahlem) has been excellent, not what I was expecting in some ways and exactly what I expected in other ways - planning and organisation have been key to getting myself and my bike ready. This place is perfect for this kind of preparation (long haul bike touring) - away from the city, free of the booze, drugs and debauchery AND a hostel with a bike repair stand and most of the tools on hand.

Beer is less than AUD$2 for a six pack - and this is quality stuff. Food is also relatively cheap - gotta love them farm subsudies, just keep in mind that the restuarants will charge a bomb for basic meals - groceries are very cheap however.

Cycling in Berlin with a GPS is an absolute breeze. The bike paths have their own traffic lights, motorists and pedestrians give way. You can go on-road without the fear of death every three seconds AND someone told me Berlin wasn't particularly bike friendly. Well, when I find a bike friendly place I am going to be scared... what do they do? start kissing your bike?

I went to Stadler (bikeshop) it is the biggest in berlin - it is the size of Friggin Bunnings Warehouse!!!! you actually ride your bike in and around the store and collect your items as you go... I shit you not.

I can understand why so many wars were fought over this territory - it really is beautiful. Speaking of which, I am not sure if there is some law that tells fat people to stay inside in Berlin, but there just aren't any fat people around. Here is the correlation - I rode through a MacDonald's McDrive looking for ein Gledautomat (ATM) and the place was bloody deserted at 6pm... Imagine that in Australia?

I must say hats off to Garmin - the GPS has been flawless and accurate. Immensely impressed, cannot give a higher recommendation. It has made bicycling faster and more efficient than a train in Berlin... Signing off... need to go to LIDL (think ALDI, but no shit brands) to do some quick shopping before departure.