2014-08-03 48 8

Location

In a forest south of Karlsruhe

Participants

Plans

After I checked the northern half of the Stadtkreis Karlsruhe just a week ago, I can hardly resist to check also the southern part (a Regional geohashing achievement within one week!). And as I think I'll have time, I'll try to go there by bike tomorrow. It's a little bit hard to tell when I'll arrive, I think 3 pm is most likely. But if any of the Karlsruher hashers will come, I will do my very best, to be there at any time.

Expedition

I doubted, wether the hashpoint was accessible at all, with the high water in the rhine and the hashpoint situated in the lowland forest. On my way back home yesterday a student told me, that the trains from Karlsruhe to Speyer are replaced by buses. And as I don't want another 100 KM trip on my bike today (to Karlsruhe and back), I decided, to take the bull.

I had to do some homework first, so I couldn't start before 1 pm. But weather was fine, and so I enjoyed the afternoon. I met some animals on my way. Storks are quite common nowadays, and so I didn't even stop to take a photo, but when I came along some goats I had a little break. Then I continued through some fields and crossed the western parts of the city of Karlsruhe. And suddenly I reached the lowland forest with a remarkable terrace of 6 or 7 m height.

Some 100 m before the hashpoint I reached a sign that announces a preserve area, where it is not allowed to leave the path, but I was lucky, the hashpoint was just outside of its borders. So I continued, but as the forest is very dense, it was nearly impossible to get into it, and from the path I could clearly see a broad ditch, that divides me from my aim.So I ride further and after 200m I crossed the ditch. Maybe... But still no way to get into the forest, and the hash 300m away already. Then I reached a branch to the right and short after that a path to the right again, closed by a wooden barrier and high grass growing on it, but clearly a path. 350 to go. Of course I tried. Not really fun, the grass grow up to my hips and millions of mosquitos were buzzing around me. But the path lead directly to the hash, and I fought my way through it.

When I had 30 m to go, I saw the path ending at a ditch in front of me. On which side of it will the point be? Well, lucky again, some 5 or 6 m before the ditch the Garmin jumped to the rear direction. The forest was lighter here, so I could do some hashdancing. Then I left a marker and headed all the way back to my bull. While I came there on the right side of the rhine, I decided to ride back on the left side. On my way I had to climb a handicap again (at least, if your "bike" has a weight of around 30 kg). So after 80 KM I had to have a break with some food and some beverages, before I continued my ride back home, where I arrived around 6 o'clock, just 20 minutes before a heavy thunderstorm started.