What a ride! It was sooo flat. Most of the Stretch was on good gravel and we zoomed along.
Approaching Schöningen, we saw a strange Building and could not decide what that might be.
Turned out that our route was passing directly this funny Thing and so we decided to stop and find out what the heck it was and why.
Facade was completely covered in mirrors, it called itself 'Paleon' which was a Little hint.
Schöningen is a coal-mining Location and there they found the oldest human-made wooden weapons - 300.000 years old! It was worth the visit!
Later, in Helmstedt we checked the the map and decided to skip the next 130 km because they would lead across flat agricultural land and that sounded pretty boring.
So we skipped that Stretch. It is not cheating, it is maximising the experience :)
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Monday: climbing The Brocken to get to Bad Harzburg
OK. We've been here twice before but never up. This had to change! Research (holy Internet! ) revealed a descend on the north slope so called Hirtensteig.
We erred only once on the climb where a single trail led to nowhere (would have been fun w/o luggage ) and made it up mostly with low support. Few stretches of step Kolonnenweg - those infamous concrete-covered DDR patrol -ways and loooong rise to get there. You can go there by railway. Else you must walk or cycle.
What a vision! Being the highest mountain near and far the panoramic view is breathtaking.
Unfortunately, so is the wind. As soon as we discovered the descend and had a snack we left.
And what a descend that is! Kolonnenweg in a direct line down the mountain. Constant breaking (no fading but Peter s front brake had the oil boiling) next part to Bad Harzburg was a path through the forest across innumerable roots. After that it was a rocky path to the dam of a lake. No idea how all the screws remained tight!
Finally paved road down to the destination. Ahh 😊
1000m climb!
30% battery left. Very proud.
We erred only once on the climb where a single trail led to nowhere (would have been fun w/o luggage ) and made it up mostly with low support. Few stretches of step Kolonnenweg - those infamous concrete-covered DDR patrol -ways and loooong rise to get there. You can go there by railway. Else you must walk or cycle.
What a vision! Being the highest mountain near and far the panoramic view is breathtaking.
Unfortunately, so is the wind. As soon as we discovered the descend and had a snack we left.
And what a descend that is! Kolonnenweg in a direct line down the mountain. Constant breaking (no fading but Peter s front brake had the oil boiling) next part to Bad Harzburg was a path through the forest across innumerable roots. After that it was a rocky path to the dam of a lake. No idea how all the screws remained tight!
Finally paved road down to the destination. Ahh 😊
1000m climb!
30% battery left. Very proud.
Sunday: Hohegeiß (Harz)
Feeling better we set off Sunday morning towards Harz mountains. Although it was also a continuous up and down it felt easier. We made it up to Hohegeiß on 600m above sea level and pitched our tent. The last meters were the steepest, of course!
Harz is fabulous indeed! We were lucky and had almost no cars on the roads. We enjoyed silence and birdsong along the route.
Harz is fabulous indeed! We were lucky and had almost no cars on the roads. We enjoyed silence and birdsong along the route.
Monday, June 12, 2017
Friday: Duderstadt / Saturday: rest.
Ugh. Now that Peter had recovered I got ill. In addition this stretch was extremely fatiguing with endless long climbs. Beautiful landscape but taxing.
We stayed at the local youth hostel and next day it was clear I needed a day of rest. Would it be better Sunday?
We stayed at the local youth hostel and next day it was clear I needed a day of rest. Would it be better Sunday?
Thursday: to Witzenhausen
A short and easy roll along the river Werra. We were lazily pausing in a small hut when a fellow rider stopped by.
The lucky guy had 3 MONTHS of time. Oh, jealousy. ..
Then eventually we arrived at one of my best and oldest friend where we spent the night. We talked until almost midnight, I could admire her beautiful dogs and celebrated my b-day 😊
We had not seen each other for years and it was a wonderful time.
The lucky guy had 3 MONTHS of time. Oh, jealousy. ..
Then eventually we arrived at one of my best and oldest friend where we spent the night. We talked until almost midnight, I could admire her beautiful dogs and celebrated my b-day 😊
We had not seen each other for years and it was a wonderful time.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Tuesday to Gerstungen
After a cold and silent night up on that hill we rolled down towards Tann and beyond.
In Tann we had breakfast and stocked up at the local supermarket.
While Peter was waiting at the bikes another group of cyclists arrived . Neither did they greet us nor did they acknowledge our presence in any other way. What is wrong with these guys despising e-bike riders?
6km later my rear tyre was flat. Turns out the valve was not ok and my pumping I'm the morning while we waited for the tent to dry, worsened that. I never had that before and neither did Peter.
Fixed the tire (in the rain) and continued.
Twice more we had to stop at shelters to let the rain pass.
Before we reached Ģerstungen the path led through a quarry (!)
Stayed the night at Hofmeister's - very pleasant stay.
Dinner at 'der Drache' with extremely well priced drinks and super-yummy fried potatoes.
Too many km on roads on the way and by far too much rain
72 km
In Tann we had breakfast and stocked up at the local supermarket.
While Peter was waiting at the bikes another group of cyclists arrived . Neither did they greet us nor did they acknowledge our presence in any other way. What is wrong with these guys despising e-bike riders?
6km later my rear tyre was flat. Turns out the valve was not ok and my pumping I'm the morning while we waited for the tent to dry, worsened that. I never had that before and neither did Peter.
Fixed the tire (in the rain) and continued.
Twice more we had to stop at shelters to let the rain pass.
Before we reached Ģerstungen the path led through a quarry (!)
Stayed the night at Hofmeister's - very pleasant stay.
Dinner at 'der Drache' with extremely well priced drinks and super-yummy fried potatoes.
Too many km on roads on the way and by far too much rain
72 km
Monday, June 5, 2017
Monday To Hilders
Welcome to the Röhn! Very rural landscape - fields and small patches of woods, mostly hilly.
Admittedly those long climbs are not to our taste but the landscape and pretty villages are worth it.
After Fladungen a steep climb up to the highest point of today's trip waited. And yet another mean one to what we thought was a campground.
In the middle of it my battery decided to reduce support because that's what Yamaha does below 10%. Ugh.
Arrived at the camp to learn it was closed. We found a power plug, a faucet and boiled some noodles and decided to stay anyways.
Beautiful location, though! Almost as high as you could go, perfectly quiet, only birds singing. This may be different when the house is actually open, but anyway. The keeper came around to move the bins down for emptying and he told us, as long as we would not cause trouble, he was OK with us staying the night.
75 km
1280 m climb
Admittedly those long climbs are not to our taste but the landscape and pretty villages are worth it.
After Fladungen a steep climb up to the highest point of today's trip waited. And yet another mean one to what we thought was a campground.
In the middle of it my battery decided to reduce support because that's what Yamaha does below 10%. Ugh.
Arrived at the camp to learn it was closed. We found a power plug, a faucet and boiled some noodles and decided to stay anyways.
Beautiful location, though! Almost as high as you could go, perfectly quiet, only birds singing. This may be different when the house is actually open, but anyway. The keeper came around to move the bins down for emptying and he told us, as long as we would not cause trouble, he was OK with us staying the night.
75 km
1280 m climb
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Saturday: first day
After a good breakfast at the campsite (€ 5.50) we set off into a glorious morning.
The first two serious climbs again proved how cool an e-bike is. With all the baggage those would habe been VERY cruel. They were still steep and had us panting but we could still enjoy the beautiful landscape.
Bought grilled Thuringia sausages and rolls that we ate near Eishausen at a perfect resting spot in the woods at a memorial for the dead of the two great wars.
The afternoon soon got very hot - 33°C and we stayed for sorry breaks in shady spaces; eventually we dozed on two benches at the plaza in Bad Colberg - quite a nice small town.
We ended up in Bad Königshofen , racing the thunderstorm that was threatening during the afternoon and choose to pick a hotel for the night.
The first two serious climbs again proved how cool an e-bike is. With all the baggage those would habe been VERY cruel. They were still steep and had us panting but we could still enjoy the beautiful landscape.
Bought grilled Thuringia sausages and rolls that we ate near Eishausen at a perfect resting spot in the woods at a memorial for the dead of the two great wars.
The afternoon soon got very hot - 33°C and we stayed for sorry breaks in shady spaces; eventually we dozed on two benches at the plaza in Bad Colberg - quite a nice small town.
We ended up in Bad Königshofen , racing the thunderstorm that was threatening during the afternoon and choose to pick a hotel for the night.
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Friday: the start
We set of from home in the morning to spend most of the day in regional trains to Cohurg (Bavaria)
Wer saw stations with elevators out of order enjoying the simple life where you have to push your loaded bike up the stairs. It's a pity to see! Fop us it was only a nuisance. But imagine somebody in a wheelchair!
Anyway, once we left the train we hit the task. Not far, just a few km to get going.
In Theuern we camped at an amazing site, had good dinner and a nice breakfast the next morning.
The new tent was ok but it is very low and even yours truly can hardly sit up. Yet it is quick to erect and nice to spew away again.
40km
Sunny and warm
Wer saw stations with elevators out of order enjoying the simple life where you have to push your loaded bike up the stairs. It's a pity to see! Fop us it was only a nuisance. But imagine somebody in a wheelchair!
Anyway, once we left the train we hit the task. Not far, just a few km to get going.
In Theuern we camped at an amazing site, had good dinner and a nice breakfast the next morning.
The new tent was ok but it is very low and even yours truly can hardly sit up. Yet it is quick to erect and nice to spew away again.
40km
Sunny and warm
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