Day 113: Rheda-Wiedenbrück to Höxter

Yesterday was such an incredible day! I met my hero, Heinz Stücke.

After breakfast, I left Katja and Thomas’s house and rode about 18 miles to Hövelhof. It was easy to navigate using Google Maps and I found Heinz Stücke’s house without any issue. The house is very plain looking. A very humble building. To get inside was another story.

A note on the door said that Heinz can’t walk, please call this number. My phone can’t make the call because my US number doesn’t work in foreign countries. I texted Katja to see if she can make the call, but it took awhile for her to reply. Then I saw a German couple walking by. I waved to them and asked if they can make the call to Heinz. Luckily, they were able to.

Heinz told me to walk around to the side garden then open the door to come inside. After coming in and seeing my hero, I was offered a seat opposite of the bed that Heinz was lying on. I read on the internet that his hips have trouble, but I didn’t know that now he’s bedridden.

In any case, Heinz and I started to chat immediately and most of the talking was done by Heinz. It seemed like he really likes to talk.

I had to ask Heinz a couple of questions even though I didn’t prepare anything, thinking that I might not even see him. One of the questions I asked was, “Have you ever thought of quitting your journey?” His response was, “A musician will play music all his life. I’m still on my journey.” I realized this man has found cycling as his calling long ago and it was his life goal to cycle around the world.

Heinz is also a great salesman. He sold me a book and also gave me some photographs and a booklet. All for €20. I also donated €10 to his retirement fund. He will use the money to fund his museum. He told me the local government let him stay at this house for free so he can make a museum. The city is still trying to get funds for the museum and for the indoor swimming pool across from Heinz’s house.

Another advice that Heinz told me was that I can get 200,000+ followers and fund my trip as an influencer. He didn’t use the word “influencer” but that’s the modern term for what he wanted me to be.

I thought about that idea, but I don’t want to be famous and I don’t want to be a tool for some corporation to use so they can sell more of their things to people. I’m a minimalist and try to be an anti-capitalist as much as I can, so Heinz’s suggestion wasn’t something I’m interested in.

Heinz talked for an hour and half. I had to get some lunch so I left his place to buy two gyros at the local shop then came back to his place. I thought I would share one of the gyros with Heinz since it was 1:30 PM already. Heinz didn’t want the gyro because it would be too messy for him to eat. He chatted more about his adventures in various countries while I sat and ate my gyro. He really enjoys talking to people and that’s how people offered him a place to stay. Heinz told me he stayed in over 5000 people’s homes!

When I told Heinz that I had to go because I’ll be staying at a host’s place for the night, he was a little disappointed. He told me that he lets the journey decides where he’ll sleep so he never made plans about where to stay on the day of. He truly followed the flow.

I left Heinz’s house around 2:30 PM. I was so overwhelmed by the conversation and had a lot to think about. Will I be able to do what Heinz did and cycle for a lifetime? Probably not. I’m not Heinz and he’s not me. I have my own life. Though cycling around the world is what I want to do now, I don’t know if I’ll do that for the rest of my life. I’m a person who likes to do different things and I’m sure I’ll be bored with cycling one of these days.

I rode another 40 miles or so to Höxter and arrived at 6:15 PM at my Couchsurfing host’s place. I had cycled a total of 59.3 miles and I was tired since I haven’t cycled this long in a long time.

My host is Marie and she shares her apartment with her three kids and her girlfriend. After taking a shower, I read more about Heinz from his booklet before having dinner.

Last night, I slept for about 11 hours and got up at 8:30 this morning. For some reason, I rarely get up at 6 AM anymore. I think it must be the timezone difference.

I just had some bread with cheese and butter for breakfast. I will head out soon to Hildesheim, a town that’s not on the EuroVelo route. I hope Google Maps will not take me to closed roads, like it did twice yesterday.

My Warmshowers hosts Katja and Thomas

Cool metal sculptures by the bike path

A farm for snow geese

Church in Hövelhof

Heinz Stücke's house/museum

The view from the front door of the house. I know I've come to the right place.

Heinz Stücke and his book

What I got from Heinz

The mandatory selfie with Heinz

A few of his 100,000+ photograph slides.

Cheers, Heinz!

A great day!

Free apples from the side of the road

No shoulder to ride on, but also few cars

I think this is a railroad bridge.

One of many wind turbine farms

The second closed road that Google Maps wants to go on

Into Höxter

On the side of the Weser River

My Couchsurfing host, Marie