Cycling for Recycling

Today's destination wasn't a pretty park, a palace or an interesting cafe - it was to the junkyard. More precisely, I rode to the nearest hazardous waste disposal and recycling center. I didn't have a lot to get rid of, it was very easy to transport on my bicycle. The battery on my electric toothbrush had died. I didn't want to just throw it in the garbage but the appliance was too big to put in the usual battery disposal boxes located in various supermarkets. I decided the recycling center was as  good a goal as any for a bicycle ride and was off.

Hazardous waste

A warm autumn afternoon

The ride to the north was about five kilometers on a bike path, but not very interesting or pretty. I didn't take any pictures. At the "Wertstoffhof" or Recycling Center, I planned to get some interesting shots of all the things people throw away. I got just one shot of the bin for electric appliances when I was approached by a man in orange overalls. No photographing allowed! Verboten! He didn't know why, but at least he was friendly. I put my camera away - reluctantly.

Graveyard for my electric toothbrush

Outside the gates, I took one more picture. See the people in orange overalls watching me!

On the way home I looked for a different route since the ride out hadn't been very attractive. I saw some bike lanes that looked new and thought I should try them out and see where they went. Then I followed my nose. Sometimes I followed other cyclists who seemed to know where they were going, and discovered some new bike paths.

I think I'll go this way.

I followed some cyclists turning left next to the railroad tracks, and discovered this! It was short but very nice and unexpected.

New territory

I didn't really know where I was.

I ended up on this ring road with plenty of bike lanes. I knew where I was now.

I could soon access the Olympic Park which made for a nice ride almost all the way home.

I got a view of the television tower.

More of the Olympic Park

I thought a refreshment would be a nice finish for my ride. I gave Janos a call and asked if he would like to join me for an aperitif somewhere. He liked this suggestion much more than a ride to the junkyard and was downstairs in no time. We went to a nearby cafe and had a drink reminding us of our tour in Italy.

Our aperol spritz, always photogenic but they taste better in Italy.