A very lively place. Stayed at a city centre Hostel, Stayok.

 

Well the journey is over, what are our thoughts and conclusions?Everywhere that we have travelled throughout Netherlands and Germany we have experienced that the bike is king. The infrastructure is second to none, especially in Holland. The cycle paths are amazing and totally separate from cars and traffic. Very similar in Germany, but with more variation, paved, forest tracks and gravel paths. Cars give way to bikes at junctions and crossings. In other words the bike has been truly embraced as a valid mode of transport, at least in and around towns and cities.

Everybody has been warm and welcoming. A sheer pleasure. Our impression of the countryside has been formed and changed. Holland has waterways everywhere, Germany is very rural with extensive agriculture and many forests which were fun to cycle through. We have experienced many things, accommodation, food, beer. It has been a wonderful experience. We have such a long way to go back in the UK where the car is king and knobs still abuse you from cars, the contrast in both Holland and Germany in attitude to cyclists compared to England is startling.Finally as we depart by train, could it get any better, there is a guy at the station who’s role is to help get cyclists on the train efficientlyAnd finally proper storage for bikes on the train.This trip is something every British cyclist should try just to experience the contrast.

After a remarkably comfortable night in the Red Shed, breakfast was a bit sparse, banana and chocolate before we set off for Berlin. A couple of mechanicals and faffing before we could get underway. Nothing serious, just nuts coming loose/missing on panniers. Fortunately Rick has a very well stocked toolkit. Very flat, uneventful miles for most of the journey. As it is Sunday in Germany, nearly everything is closed. Managed to find an open Turkish place in Ketzin for coffees. Nothing more happened until we got to the outskirts of Berlin. Very impressive entry road into Berlin, wide avenues and huge open spaces. Stopped for lunch at a patisserie. First of all made our way to the Central Hauptbahnof to get our train tickets home. Huge station.

Arrived at our final destination, Brandenburg gate. We have made it, 600 miles. Not a bad achievement.

Now to find our hostel and wind down in the traditional manner.

Deciding on what we do for dinner tonight, a nice Vietnamese across the road from the hostel, whilst we plan sightseeing for tomorrow.

Well I guess this is the end of the blog. We have achieved what we wanted to, 600 miles to Berlin. Tomorrow we will be sight-seeing. Tuesday we get the train back to Den Haag, cycle the 15 miles to Hook of Holland to get the overnight ferry back to Harwich then home via London. Details of todays ride.

https://www.relive.cc/view/2455098735

The youth hostel was really busy this morning with lots of family groups.

Left in bright sunshine at about 25degrees and during the course of the day the temp rose up to 35 degrees. Hot, hot, hot.

Need to ensure that we keep hydrated. One of the key moments was passing over the river Elbe just outside Dessau-Rosslau.

Had a change of plans due to lack of any available accommodation in Bad Belzig, so decided to make for Brandenburg. Roads were straight and flat, so made good time, sometimes being able to maintain a steady 18-20mph. We were gagging for a coffee stop, however passed through small villages, which were closed with no cafes. Eventually got to a reasonable sized town, Wiesenburg, but everything except a small supermarket were closed. Managed to get some drinks and ice-cream to see us through. There were also 3 other cyclists on very high end Felt TT bikes, must have been £10k each. Our touring bikes must have looked very sad sat next to these 3 stallions.Anyway back on the road. Still no cafes, until we got to a set of motorway services with a Burgerking 🤮🤮🤮. Was full of squadies, but the petrol station had a small bistro where we were able to get sandwiches and a coffee. By this time temp was up to 35degrees and just 10 miles from our final destination of Brandenburg. Our accommodation tonight consists of a small red painted shed with 2 sets of bunk beds.

Cheap, but functional.Supermarket for the obligatory post ride beers before getting ready to go out.Brandenburg is surprisingly run down, considering its importance and proximity to Berlin. Suffering from many years of under investment as DDR.

Found the Altstadt bar, which was an Irish pub!!Saw this character in the town, comments on who is the most wooden.

Dinner was at a riverside restaurant with a very noisy, jolly German crowd and a great host. Back to the shed for a surprisingly comfortable nights sleep before we set off to Berlin.Details of todays ride.

https://www.relive.cc/view/2451967892

Swan Hotel is Seeland a very traditional German hotel and breakfast was very interesting.

In the lounge/lobby of the hotel is one hell of a log burning stove. Looks just like a massive aero engine. Must be great in winter. There are signs all around that they have heavy winters here with snow guards on the roof. See picture of log burner.

Left the hotel in bright sunshine with the promise of it hotting up. Which it did, 27 degrees by lunchtime. A long way to go today so trying to cut corners. Used mainly roads today with just a couple of forest tracks. A deer lept out in front of us on one of the tracks. Scenery is now a lot flatter and mainly agricultural. Some of the towns are now showing signs of once being under communist rule with concrete central buildings and apartment block estates.

Lunch today was courtesy of Lidl and taken al fresco on the river bank in Bernburg.

This area has historical significance as it was where Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation. There is a Luther trail, Lutherweg and passing through Repichau, there are a host of statues and murals.

The afternoon was still very hot, but cloudy, which helped. A number of stops to get dehydrated, but we needed to crack on to get to the youth hostel in Dessau-Rosslau. Cheap, but good. We are in a 8 bed dorm, but just the four of us. End of ride beers required and had the buffet dinner. Lots of family groups staying here. Change of plan for tomorrow, cannot get any accommodation on route, so need to divert to Brandenburg where we are staying in a camping hut!! Let’s see what that’s like, cheap @ £43 for the 4 of us.

Todays ride details.

https://www.relive.cc/view/2449484860

Continental breakfast at the Hostel before setting off.

Weather ok, but soon warmed up. Before leaving mountain country, we had a few mors serious climbs. Today was initially a series of forest tracks, gravel path downhills and some very lumpy, bumpy paths.Warmed up very quickly, so arm warmers were soon off. The route has some excellent information boards along the way at places of interest.

On the road were large numbers of cherry trees, and like naughty boys we couldn’t resist picking a few.

We passed through an interesting Abbey complex Kloster Michealstein.

Today lunch was going to be an outdoor picnic, stoppee at ALDI in Thale to pick up rolls, beer and cheese and ham etc, before having lunch by a barn near an amazing poppy field.

Weather now 28 degrees, so just had to have a snooze, but who left the chocolate behind when we set off 😰😰Having a short day today as not only are we getting tired, but we have a long day tomorrow. Unfortunately, by cutting the route short, we ended up going down some muddy farm tracks.The final run in to Seeland was on some really smooth downhill tarmac, just coasting along at 22mph when most of the day was at 10mph. Arrived at the Swan Hotel early and just had to chill with a couple of beers.Dinner was superb with most of us having some Harz hunted produce, Venison and Wild Boar.

Early night.Todays ride details.

https://www.relive.cc/view/2446797320

After the thunderstorms last night, this morning started off grey and very overcast with a few spots of rain. As there were no facilities at the camp we rode down to Bad Gandesheim for breakfast. The only coffee shop was full so we had a takeaway from the bakery which we ate al fresco. Out of the town was a steep ascent, which was to set the tone for the day. We are going across the top of the Harz mountains.With some steep ascents and some very challenging mountain bike descents across gravel and rocky paths. Interesting with fully loaded panniers.The morning was warm, but muggy.Had a brief stop at Langelsheim with a beautiful chalk stream with loads of trout visible.

Lunch stop was in Goslar, a UNESCO heritage town.
Goslar is a town in Germany’s Harz Mountains. It’s known for its medieval old town and half-timbered houses. Market Church St. Cosmas and Damian features 13th-century stained-glass windows. The 11th-century Imperial Palace has historic murals. South, Rammelsberg Mountain is home to silver and copper mines more than 1,000 years old. The Rammelsberg Mining Museum preserves underground waterwheels and a mine railway. Quality lunch toastie and beer.A very interesting clock in the town square.Just after leaving Goslar, some very testing climbs, but then the heavens opened and it absolutely chucked it down. Lasted for about an hour and then the sun came out again. Mountain weather is unpredictable.Brief stop in Ilsenburg with some beautiful lakes and gardensFinally arrived at Vernigerode, staying tonight at another hostel. Short ride of just about 45 miles, but very testing.Showered etc and went down to the Altstadt, beautiful old town and castle.Found a traditional Brauhaus for classic German food and beers. Quality.Details of todays ride.https://www.relive.cc/view/2444553468

Woke up this morning to heavy rain 😰. However as breakfast got under way, rain stopped. By the time we were ready to roll it was just overcast, but still a bit chilly. Our first mechanical, Rick had a flat overnight. Scenery is starting to look a bit more varied with great tracks through wide open fields and forests. 99% of the cycling is still on bike paths, see the videos below.

First coffee/brunch stop after 25 miles in Hoxter, some very nice buildings.

Met a group of Australians and Kiwis, who were doing a big loop taking, God knows how many days.Over brunch, the sun came out and was gloriously hot for the rest of the day, reaching 28 degrees.Sometimes we forget how wide our bikes are with panniers, had our first minor crash, Colin caught his bag against a post and came off, nothing serious, a few grazes.Now starting to see some proper hills, going through a few long, but gentle climbs.

Can start to see some big hills in the distance, we should hit the Hartz mountains tomorrow, they have peaks as high as Snowdon!!Lunch stop at Lidl for chocolate and coke.

Passed through Einbeck, which is known as beer town, couldn’t go through without sampling the product. Now up to 50 miles. Einbeck is also a Hanseatic town also on the wooden buildings trail.

Should be just a short trip to our final destination of the day, however some long uphill grinds to get around a hill. Finally arrive, tonight we have an Airbnb chalet on a campsite.

Not too bad and cheap. There is a natural swimming pond, Rick takes a dip and others have a bit of a paddle. Nothing on camp and we are about 1km from the town, so decide to walk in with very pleasant weather. As we arrive just starts to rain which then turns into spectacular thunder and lightening storms.Find a traditional bar/restaurant and all have Currywurst and chips, obviously with a few beers. Get a cab back to the camp with thunder/lightening overhead. Let’s hope it clears up by tomorrow as we have the mountains to tackle.

Our ride today

https://www.relive.cc/view/2441937582

Lovely hotel, Markthotel right in the square.

Started off this morning with an “All you can eat” breakfast. After a bit of faffing about, we set off at around 10:30am. Weather was lovely, hot and humid. Got up to about 28 degrees during the day.

Very peaceful and tranquil travelling through the German countryside. Here’s something you don’t see often in the UK, the margins of the wheat fields were covered in Cornflowers. What a lovely colour.

Was a fairly quick 20 miles to our coffee stop at Gutesloh, passing the huge, and now deserted RAF Gutesloh base. Today was a German public holiday, which meant that everything was shut again. The coffee stop was an exception, being aTurkish coffee shop.

There did seem to be a large number of Turkish places open in Gutesloh. It was so hot and humid, and we also felt quite safe and away from the traffic that we decided to cycle the rest of the day without helmets. Very liberating.

After a huge breakfast, we decided that we did not need a lunch stop today. However we did fancy an ice cream stop at Augustdorf for a bit of a sugar rush.

Outside the ice cream place, a couple of interesting cycle route signs. We are not going as far as St Petersburg, but you can get a feel of how far we have come.

We are now starting to see a couple of hills and climbs, with more to come over the next couple of days as we head towards the Hartz mountains.

Towards the end of the ride, we took a minor detour to look at Externsteine, a historical landmark and set of rocks.

Just a couple of km’s from here, we arrived at our destination for tonight. The youth hostel in Horn-bad Meinberg.

Dinner was just down the road at the Sports Bar for a superb steak, whilst our washing was drying. Have to carry out the domestics at some point in time.

Ride info for the day and follows.

https://www.relive.cc/view/2439384326

Departed from Stadtlohn on a nice warm, sunny morning. What a difference a day makes. Virtually no wind today. One of the challenges today is to find somewhere open as Germany closes on a Sunday. Our destination today is Warendorf.
Warendorf is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and capital of Warendorf District. The town is best known today for its well-preserved medieval town centre, for horse-riding, and the opportunities it provides for cycling.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s “Landgestüt” (stud farm) and the National Olympic Committee for horse-riding are both located in Warendorf.

Our ride was smooth an uneventful, however we were passed by, what we assume to be the local cycling club on a A ride with about 40 cyclists with all the latest gear/bikes.

First coffee stop at Billerbeck was rammed with people partaking of lunch, which looked great. We just had a coffee and quick beer. It was 12pm after all. Some interesting Wedding announcements by the roadside. See pictures below.

Got to the Munster for lunch, after about 40 miles. Superb medieval town centre with a splendid Dom.

However the bells rang incessantly for more than 30 minutes.

Interesting mix of road surfaces today with cobbles, forest tracks and lots of family outings on bikes, many of them electric.

Arrived at Warendorf just before 5pm at great hotel Markthotel, in the town square. Owned by Italians, very welcoming allowing us to park our bikes in the downstairs room, but not very happy when Bernie tried to park his bike next to his recently renovated Vespa 😰😰

Picture from our window below.

Other pictures of town above.

Drinks and dinner at their Italian restaurant.

Details of our ride below.

https://www.relive.cc/view/2436588654