Week 2

Saturday 22/9

Holzminden to Rinteln
5 hrs. 50 min. 15 Av. 88 kms Total 667 kms

Woke up at 07:00 and were on the road by 09:00, the sky looked clear and it promised to be a good day for cycling so we took our time.
Again we rode through nice little picturesque villages, wooded areas and farm fields. The ride is very good, nice quiet rural roads and bike specific cycling paths. Being a weekend there were a few other cyclists around but we have only spotted a hand full of other cyclists.
We crossed the river a couple of times, they have cycling paths on both sides, but we found the Eastern side of the river much more quieter, the cycling path on the Western side runs next to the N83, even though it's still nice it was a bit noisy.
There are many National and Natural parks around and the scenery is very nice.
The hills are slowly disappearing the further North we go and we fear it's going to start getting boring. So far it has been interesting we'll see.

           
Left to Right:
1- Sunrise over Holzminden and the Wesser river.
2- Looking back along the Wesser, this is part of Nature park Solling-Vogler.
3- One of the few crossings we made today.
4- Riding through the Nature park Waserbergland-Hameln.
5/6- Looking back and front along one of the very nice cycling paths through the Naturepark Waserbergland-Hameln.\
7- An action picture of Monique riding through farmland.

Sunday 23/09

Rinteln to Drakenburg
5 hrs. 50 min. 15.7 Av. 91 kms Total 758 kms.

Got up at 07:30 and were on the road by 09:30. From some of the locals we heard that tomorrow would be nice but they're expecting thunderstorms on Tuesday so we think that would be a nice time for a rest day.
Today was another very nice day for cycling sunny and warm +/-26c with very little wind. The route took us through many little picturesque villages and small farm fields. Again all the bike paths and rural roads were like new, it just was a very nice day to ride a bike.
We were not sure of a camping in the area we wanted to stop but when we pulled over to check out our map this German cycling tourist stopped and showed us his map which had all the camping sites on it, and we saw that there was one, so the last 50 kms went by a bit easier, not having to worry about a place to stay.
The camping at Drakenburg was OK at 9 euro shower included, it was right on the river and was mostly used by boaters.
Today we think is the official end to the hills as the past 70 kms were totally flat.

       
1- Monique checking out our route in Porta Westfalica, Kaiser Wilhelms memorial could just be seen on the left hill.
2- Kaiser Wilhelm memorial.
3- Taking five on one of the many benches along the cycling route.
4- The nice and quiet rural roads before Nienburg.
5- Enjoying the sunset after diner, on the way back to camp.

Monday 24/09

Drankenburg to Gro(B) Mackenstedt
6 hrs. 20 min. 14.8 Av. 94 kms Total 852 kms.

Got up at 07:00 and were on the road by 09:15, we took our time getting ready today as we expected an easy days ride. BUT, the planning got all screwed up and we ended up at Gro(B) Mackenstedt.
Today was the most boring day so far, we feel that we cycled nearly 100kms and got nowhere, as the scenery stayed the same. The weather was nice and warm and we had a tailwind for most of it, but towards the end of the day when we turned West it picked up and became a headwind which made the going a bit tougher.
We are not sure why we changed our plan but we did, and we paid for it.
Again we just followed the well marked cycling paths from one town to the next, but like I said earlier it was a boring ride.
The camping here is the most expensive so far 20 euros, and to add insult to injury its right next to the very busy E37.
It rained some in the night, but was dry by morning.

   
1- Sunrise view from our tent on the river Wesser.
2- One of the many long and empty rural roads.
3- An action picture of Monique.

Tuesday 25/09

Gro(B) Mackenstedt to Dangast

6 hrs. 50 min. 15 Av. 102 kms. Total 955 kms.

The day started out good, we had a small shower early in the morning but were on our way by 09:00. We still had the wind from the South and we made good time as we rode in a Northerly direction to Lemwerder, Berne and than on to Brake.
The temperature had dropped a bit also, +/-16c and we were glad it was a tail wind.
Every time we stopped it got cold.
From Brake we followed the cycling path towards Nordenham and after a few kms we turned West heading for Jade than onto Varel.
This whole area is flat as a pancake, a bit boring but OK I guess. All farmland around here with some heavy industry near the Wesser.
About seven kms before Varel we saw a cycling path (part of the North Sea route) heading to Dangast were we knew there was a camping.
This camping is pretty good and we decided to take a rest day here. We have been on the road for seven days without a rest day so this place looks to be OK.

         
1- Riding along beautiful cycling paths next to the Delme river, between Delmenhorst and Bremen.
2- Taking a break along a canal, no benches along this route.
3- Entering the National park Niedersachsisches Wattenmeer, (sanctuary for migrating birds).
4- The very long cycling route along the Jade sea.
5- The North Sea cycling route, for those unfamiliar, just Yahoo or Google it.
6- Our camp in Dangast, fool moon tonight.

Wednesday 26/09

Dangast, Rest day.

Did pretty much nothing today, eat, drink, did some chores and relaxed. We took a late morning walk to the village, checked out some artwork, got some supplies, beer ;-), oh and some food, and got back to camp.
The weather was fine, with a nice little shower in the afternoon, just right for our siesta.
We couldn't figure out why they call it Jade bay because it looks grayish brown and at high tide we saw some very dark foam floating on top.
We did spot some heavy industry in the distance, at the mouth of the bay, also the water seems to be much deeper there as we saw some huge ships sailing in and out even in low tide.
We're happy to have made it here and so far it's been a wonderful tour. Tomorrow we're off to Leer than on to Holland. Germany has been nice but we're getting a bit tired of it and are looking forward to cycling in Holland again.

       
1- Panorama of Jade Bay, our camping is just to the right.
2- Walking towards the village of Dangast at high tide.
3- Posing in the center of Dangast.
4- A sculpture which seems to be standing on water at high tide.
5- Jade Bay at low tide.

Thursday 27/09

Dangast to Irhoven
5 hours 16 Av. 81 kms. Total 1036 kms.

Woke up at 07:15 and were on the road by 09:00. We're taking longer now as it gets very cold at night and it's making it very difficult to crawl out or our sleeping bags in the morning :-)
The day started out OK with a nice tail wind and we did great time along some very quiet rural roads, but as the day progressed it got more gray and cold. Also the landscape is getting to be very boring now.
By the time we reached Leer it started to rain. We know now that we started this tour a bit late.
We don't really mind the rain or the cold but both together isn't nice at all. At Leer we stopped at the tourist office for some information about a camping and this lady directed us to Irhoven about 8kms south.
The camping was OK, but a bit on the expansive side. Also there was only a restaurant open in the neighborhood and it started to rain again, so it was noodles for diner.

   
1- More quiet rural roads, but the jackets are out again.
2- Getting darker and colder as the day progressed.
3- Sunset by the lake next to our camping.

Friday 28/09

Irhoven, Forced rest day.

Got up this cold morning and the rain was coming down good. We stayed a while in our sleeping bags waiting for it to stop but no good.
We than decided to get everything ready to leave in case it does stop, but still nothing. We waited until 11:00 and still the rain continued, so we unpacked our stuff and got ready for another night. At the reception we were told that tomorrow would be better and that there was a super market in the village about three kms from the camping.
So when it finally stopped raining we rode to the village got some beer and supplies, then got back to camp and hoped it would be nicer tomorrow so we could continue.
No pictures were taken today mainly out of frustration but also because there wasn't anything new to see here.