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I didn’t sleep too well, was up in the middle of the night, and got up before 5 to leave by 6. The excitement was getting to me, and now also the lack of sleep. Today was a cycle through the haze in my mind and the grey skies in the heavens.

Day 2. 128km. Sythen – Bad Essen. Map and gpx file.

The skies remained grey all day, as did the head wind. It was no stronger than the head wind yesterday. I just had less resistance against it.

In Münster I stopped for an extended second breakfast in a nice little bakery. It was warm inside and I took my time studying the map as I charged my various batteries. After Münster I continued along pleasant roads through rolling fields and forests. I realized I wasn’t mentally present. I felt tired – not physically exhausted – I just needed some sleep. I stopped for lunch in another bakery in Lengerich. I had a few micro sleeps and then booked a hotel somewhere past Osnabrück that I could get to around 4. I chose a forest hotel near Bad Essen.

The hotel is like how I imagined Germany to be when I was a school kid in Australia. Fachwerk building in a Hansel and Gretal forest. In the restaurant they serve Schnitzel and the hallways smell of wood fires. They remind me of Olive Grove cottage in Australia. Lovely place and a friendly manager from England.

Another big meal here and then a hibernation length sleep. Hooray!