Berlin to Copenhagen on Push Bikes

The Tour on Google Earth

2009-03-13T10:44:00.007+01:00

By request, I have added ten kml-files to show you our complete bike tour to Copenhagen from a satelite perspective. The files will work with Google Earth. Each file shows a single stage and indicates the ridden trail with a blue line.

You can either download the files in the category "Google Earth" on the right, or on the individual page for a stage day.

The click on the number of kilometers will show you the elevation chart in a new browser window.

You also will find the charts on the individual page for a stage day.

If you download all ten kml-files and doubleclick them at once, Google Earth will show our whole trip in one window!

Please, download the zipped file archive and enjoy our ride.

The Aftermath

2007-09-12T18:35:00.032+02:00

Since being honored as a Blog Of Note we received more than 7.500 visitors so far. Welcome all and thanks for your comments.

The overseas participants of the bike ride still recover from minor bruises, just ready to encounter the new challenge, I may announce officially: Berlin to Paris in 20XX! Slightly hillier it is too.

on the bikes again, ready, push!

The End

2007-09-02T00:13:00.021+02:00

Three Aussies, one Kiwi, two Germans had cycled from Berlin to Copenhagen in twelve days.

Two Aussies had driven the broom wagon with their luggage.

The lazy guide dog had been chauffered all the way either in the car or in the trailer at the back of the tandem.

Read the full story from the very beginning here ...

Or read the Aftermath

Rider's comments

2007-09-01T15:14:00.065+02:00

Pam says: "Wow, what can I say! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would have the oportunity to have such an adventure. It would never have been possible without the wonderful people that surround me. Rudi & Brigitta for suggesting this event in the first place; Doug for encouraging me to take the bull by the horns and go with it. Shirley for her continuous support as my trustful front rider, sighted guide & friend. Rae for her encouragement and sense of humour and our new friends TnT for rounding our group off. I am now looking forward to my next challenge, so watch out you lot, who knows where we will be going next!"

Shirley says: "It has been an interesting holiday full of exercise and great food. I've enjoyed the riding and thank each one of my co riders for their support during the ride and the friendships formed. It was suprising how quickly we covered the kilometres and how easy the riding was."

Brigitta says: "Lots of fun, laughs and impressions. Thank you guys for the great tour. What can I say: I would do it again!"

Rae says: "I am really sad that the bike ride is over, even though I was not riding. Doug and I in the car became a pretty good team, shouting at one another from time to time and for me, cringing under the dash as we did what became our famous U turns. I was really pleased to have a drive too and found it fairly scary. And of course there is the evidence of me on the bike. WOW! How exciting it was too. Just grand to have had time with a great bunch of people, who were very kind to the granny of the team."

Trish says: "I felt that I would have liked to bike longer. Sad knowing that it was ending. For me personally this has been an experience of a life time. You never too old to take a new challenge. The next bike trip I do on my own, because all the riders were to slow for me. (mind you: I wouldn't have made it, if I hadn't met up with these wonderful caring people). I have been blessed."

Trevor says: "What a great experience; great food, we tried every beer, a very interesting route and most importantly very enjoyable company. I got a very good insight into Northern Germany Culture and it's depressed economy, which was totaly contrasted in our respect by my impressions of Denmark. Berlin and Copenhagen as the pevital cities were both beyond expectations. All in all I was totally overawed."

Doug says: "What a great trip,what a great team of people and what wonderful towns and villages we travelled through. Learnt more about driving in Europe in these last few days with our 3 wheels on the kirb u turns, u turns inbetween approaching buses and trucks. So much fun and pleasure in this holiday that will be hard to beat."

Rudi says: "Whole lotta fun - although I don't look like it!"

and Earl hadn't had a danish hot dog.

The End ...

Day 12 - Final Stage

2007-08-31T15:03:00.094+02:00

It is hard to believe that this day has come. We are riding the last km's to Copenhagen! The morning started with Rae having a go on the tandem with Shirley and of course lots of photos taken for "proof"! She found it easier than she thought, so we may get her to be a bike rider yet.

new experience for Rae

So, now came the time for us to set off on the final stage of this wonderful experience. The weather was fine at the start, but deteriorated rapidly the closer we got to Copenhagen. We stopped at the little village of Snoldelev where a church had the lights on, so we thought we would have a look. It was undergoing some refurbishing and the organ had been pulled apart to be cleaned. Very interesting to see all the pipes laying in order on pieces of wood. Not long after here, we hit a rather long hill (by Danish standards anyway!) beside a pig farm.

We have never breathed in such foul smelling air and we couldn't get away from it!! The harder we pedalled, the harder we had to breath and we were all choking by the time we got to the top of the hill! After an unplanned tour through the back streets and industrial area of Greve - but Rudi assures us, we weren't lost - we finally got onto the last road with the sign "19 km to Copenhagen".

nearly there ...

About 10 km before the city, the heavens opened, so ... 6 somewhat bedraggled, wet, cold riders arrived at the Tårnborg Villa to find Doug standing outside in the rain rather agitated! there had been some sort of misunderstanding between him and the "lady of the house" regarding Earl. Rudi went in a sorted it all out, and we eventually got into our rooms and had access to hot showers.

Prior to this, Doug had been on a determined drive to Helsinki! Rae insisted on yet another U-turn and directed them straight to the accommodation. Seeing as we hadn't had a lunch stop today, we walked around until we found a "bar" that served food. We don't know what it is with Rae & Shirley, but they soon had a very happy chappy trying to chat them up and telling them what to go and see whilst they were in Copenhagen.

Day 12.kml for being viewed with Google Earth.

Shirley making new friends

TnT went bike selling and ended up virtually giving them away for the price of 500 Kroner (approx. AUS $120) but all Trish wanted was to get back and get some dry shoes!! We ended the day with food and drinks in yet another bar (Café Obelix) with lots of talk about our ride. Rider's total Kilometres range from 560 to 690.

PARTICIPANTS:

Shirley Bott - Tandem Captain (Australian)
Pam Haigh - Tandem Stoker (Australian)
Trish Hewlett - Rider (New Zealander)
Trevor Rickard - Rider (Australian)
Rudi Vossberg - Rider & Leader (German)
Brigitta Metje - Rider (German)
Doug Haigh - Driver (£10 immigrant with an Australian passport!)
Rae Mullen - Navigator (Australian)
Earl - Back seat rider! (Laziest guide dog in the world! But if we are lost, he will always find "home". It is where the food is!)

Go to Rider's comments

Day 11 - Day of Frolics

2007-08-30T14:59:00.067+02:00

Early breakfast because the lady of the house was off to Copenhagen for the day. But we didn‘t have to rush our bread, cereals, rolls, meat, cheese, jams, pate spreads, tea and coffee. We rode leisurely out of Rødvig on our 2nd last day of riding.

threatening sky

We only had 58 km to ride today. Unfortunately, the weather wasn‘t too pleasant even though we made a visit at Højerup Kirke! The Gods were not on our side. The church we visited was built in 1588 on the edge of a cliff, which has since fallen away taking a large part of the church which included the Altar, with it. A beautiful little church hanging on the cliff edge. Some walked down to the beach others hung over the edge of the cliff (only because they couldn‘t see!).

christian cliffhanger

Rae did the whole 102 steep steps each way without a shoulder to hang onto - well done Rae and on the bike tomorrow! Doug and Rae spent quite some time in the Stevns Klint Museum on the way out of this area.

a million miles of frustration!

Excellent display of artifacts from past days in Denmark. Whilst this was happening, the cyclists came across a lovely little field of poppies.

no comment

A romp & frolic was had by TnT to the amusement of the other riders! Coming into Køge, over cobbles once again; Shirley and Pam got yet another puncture!! Bloody Cobbles!!

danish help for aussie flat tyre

Doug found a bike shop while we lunched and took advantage of earl‘s body heat to dry off some of our clothes. Great soup, omlettes, hamburgers followed by the obligatory danish cake!

Once again on the bikes, pedals going around for another 20 km to our night stop at Viby. Well, what can be said about here?? We opened the door of the pub we were to stay in and were hit by the thickest cloud of cig smoke you can imagine. Very hesitant about staying here until we found out that we were in motel type accomm out the back.

bored wildlife listening to Trevors' lessons

Walked the length of the town in 3 minutes, found another smoke filled pub and a pizza shop as the only food sources in the town! Pizza‘s and chicken & chips won! Now we are all in P & D‘s room discussing snoring, and amusing events of our ride. The decibels have been off the scale with laughter, even though no beer has been consumed yet - mind you, a couple of bottles of wine seem to have disappeared pretty quickly.

The beer has now come out and politics is being discussed by the guys and the women are just shaking their heads!

Day 11.kml for being viewed with Google Earth.

Go to Day 12

Day 10 - On the road again

2007-08-29T13:27:00.073+02:00

Up for the day from our „nursinghome“ accommodation, knowing we are closer to Copenhagen, but firstly the „gladiators“ were presented with their colourful lei‘s by Shirley, for their heroic efforts of riding the day before.

hard to wear them

We headed off to yet another bridge, this one not so scary. Off we trotted through the countryside, where TnT and Brigitta took the wrong turn yet again. A "COOEE" (Australian scream) got their attention and they eventually turned around! We stopped at Jungshoved and met Doug and Rae for a refill of water, food, followed by the toilet stop in the little bakery! The attraction of the place were the two danish men drinking alcohol behind the shop.

in the daily mirror

Laid back ride to Præsto, where we were able to update the website in a restaurant at the harbour side, and Trish had her first iced coffee. Meal was okay - (bloody nice). We all headed off for the oldest pottery in Denmark. The only one left of five in this area. Founded in 1880. Once again, Trish thought, she was at work .....

... round and round and round and ...

Church stop in Roholte - Trevor was rather impressed by the architecture in this village. 10 K‘s later Trish stepped on a deadly poisonous snake, and both trish and the snake survived!! mind you, it was only about 4“ long and looked like a long worm! Also at this spot fresh pumpkins were on sale. Nobody took advantage to buy: maybe too heavy to carry!

yet another church

We followed the „yellow Daisy“

... lazy daisies ...

and suddenly Trevor was standing at the road side waving at us. We rode by with a big smile: He had his first flat tyre. It was only a loose valve.

pump it up, Aussie!

Emergency call to Doug wasn‘t really necessary, but the directions to our accommodation Damsgarden in the town of Rødvig was very helpful.

After cleaning the bodies we headed off to fill our bellies with a good hearty meal, followed by many varieties of liquid. Doug made friends in the loo and didn‘t come back for ages. None of us were game to ask him what he had been doing!! The food was really excellent and the Inn Keeper quite a character. Our accommodation for the night was in a converted pig house! So Trevor was allowed to snore as much as he liked! In Trevor‘s opinion this was the best accomm of the trip - so did Trish, she had a little room all of her own.

end of the day

Day 10.kml for being viewed with Google Earth.

Go to Day 11

Day 9 - Restday at the cliffs

2007-08-28T19:30:00.091+02:00

128 meters height or 500 steps

colourful sea

After a good night's rest for most of us - the couch was good for some :-)

We were a lot brighter this morning than by the end of last night. A good breakfast, maintenance on Brigitta's bike (bearings had gone in her pedal). We all went our own way to explore this lovely little village of Stege.

yet another lake

In between loads of washing, we did a little shopping, lunching and sightseeing. Between us all we covered the entire island - the white cliffs (Møns Klint), Nyord Island (we are on Møn) and other places of interest.

sacred site of the vikings

quite hilly overhere

Brigitta and Rudi cycled their 60 k's and met TNT twice, who were catching busses to travel them around the island.

waiting for the bus in Stege

Go to Day 10

Day 8 - Baltic Blues

2007-08-27T19:28:00.152+02:00

Up very early because we were booked on the 9 am ferry to Denmark. We only had one U-turn on our way (and it was only 8 km) and a stop at the garage for air! It was very cool and windy and with our fingers crossed we were hoping for a smooth crossing - which it was.

the team close to the ferry

We hit danish soil and not even a customs officer, a quarantine officer to greet us. No stamps in passport, just get on your bike and go!

lunch in the dunes

The weather had deteriorated considerably. So now we had gale force winds head on with showers threatening all the time. We had 87 km to ride this day and it was the hardest day we have ridden for a looong time! They say there are no hills in Denmark, but they have bloody big rises!! We enjoyed a picnic lunch on a beach with the mosquitos, but we were out of the wind.

where to go?

When we reached the next ferry at Stubbekøbing, disaster struck! The ferry had engine trouble and it was on the other side of the island "kaputt". It wasn't going to be running until the next day!! The only way to get to the next island was by bridge of the Vogelfluglinie which was an extra 50 km of riding. You can imagine the smiling faces we all had.

no boat today

It was now 3 pm and everyone was exhausted from battling the heavy headwinds so decisions had to be made. Doug and Rae headed off to the accomm to unpack the car and Doug returned to collect those that were falling by the wayside!! Thank god for a folding Bike Friday - it fitted in the boot of the car!!

Pam's sore bum: not gonna sit on that saddle anymore

Pam and Shirley were picked up and driven the last leg. Mind you, it took them nearly as long to get there because, someone couldn't remember the way, the front seat passenger was blind and couldn't read the map, and the backseat passenger couldn't see ahead quickly enough to read the foreign signage!

yet another bridge

Pam 'n' Shirley took refuge in the pink church and called in the sag wagon. The gladiators (Brigitta, Trish, Trever and Rudi) charioted off into the headwind, towards the first available cycle bridge some 18 k's in the "wrong" direction. The first bridge was 7 kilometers long, and as we reached the peak of the bridge a north westerly squall came through, making our crossing very frightening. Once on the other side turning east again, we had a tail wind and we were drenched by a storm.

last bridge to get across

After 20 k's we crossed another bridge and turned south into the wind and toiled our way into Stege, where we thought our accomodation was, only to find that we had another 7 kilometers of head wind to negotiate.

Trish came in with a smile on her face, because she had just done her longest ever bike ride - but the body was sagging sadly!! Hot drinks and showers all around, while Doug and Shirley went and got "takeaway" dinner. There day consisted of a mammoth effort of 128 km in the worst weather you can imagine - Well done girls and guys.

Part in Germany:

Part in Denmark:

Day 08.kml (Germany) for being viewed with Google Earth.
Day 08.kml (Denmark) for being viewed with Google Earth.

Go to Day 9

Day 7 - Grandparents in Rostock

2007-08-26T14:58:00.108+02:00

Pam and Doug on the mobile, talking to Lana who just has given birth to two little boys!

CONGRATS!

Up bright and early and catching the German type tram (!) into Rostock to have our guided history tour. We met our guide just as Pam and Doug got the phone call to say that Lana had had the twins. 2 boys - Willem Douglas and Thomas Frederick - mother and babies well.

On the tour we learnt about the number 7 - Rostock is built on 7 hills, it has 7 cities joined together to make one, 7 main streets and 7 linden trees. This was all in the ancient city of Rostock. Most of the houses also have 7 windows, gables etc. We covered the "Rathaus" (town hall), the main church which houses the only original astrological clock still working. An amazing piece of engineering.

St. Marien in Rostock

At 12 midday we watched the apostles come out and be blessed by jesus before going into heaven, but poor old judas was locked out once again.this has been happening from the 1300's! The fountain of pleasures - use your imagination just let us say that the Rostock people seem to be very broad minded.

The University and the statue of ? WHO WAS IT RUDI? "Dunno!" The rest of the day was spent individually strolling around the old town, or some stupid people got on their bikes and rode to the coast! their reward was a few extra bruises - ask TnT.

only one crane left

Now heading of to Denmark .....

Go to Day 8

Day 6 - A Day of Quickies

2007-08-25T14:15:00.129+02:00

Yesterday, we made the comment that we would like to start our day a bit earlier - well, that was a bit of a joke!! We had a lovely breakfast at our first hotel but before anything else.

Doug and Rudi had to repair the tyre of the tandem. A brand new inner tube, but it had a hole in it! so the last tube was put on and it stayed up for the duration of the day! So tonight‘s task will be to patch the first one.

After breakfast and packing the car, and unpacking the car looking for things that had been misplaced, we headed of to see the Güstrow Castle - the local duke & duchess lived there for many, many years. This building was built in the 1500, replacing a medieval castle. We did a quick tour of the castle and saw some truly wonderful ceiling sculptures, frieze of deer all decorated and in 3 dimension. Very old paintings, pottery and glass wear were on display.

one half has been destroyed during ww2

We finally set off on the bikes for another good day of riding. A comment about our riding: "I feel that Shirley and I have now graduated to bike riders with a capital B!" The riding has been relatively easy if you compare it to the Gippsland hills! We have done 60 km before we know it.

We followed the bike path which was quite varied again. Today we went on the narrowest dirt track for quite a few km beside a river; then onto concrete and asphalt. Not a lot of cobbles today - sorry Trish!

On these tracks which are supposed to be dedicated to bikes, we meet trucks, tractors & cars. Not easy to share the track when it is only about 10 feet wide! Quite a few hairy moments, when they pass within about 4 inches of you!

str8 ahead

We met Doug and Rae by the river Warnow in Schwaan and had the obligatory bread roll, mars bars and water, with a special today: some biscuits.

yet another bridge

We rode the last 28 km in pretty good time, but it would have been quicker if the chain hadn‘t fallen off the tandem. Pam and Shirley had managed to get it back on, before the others even realised that they were missing!!

... color of the canoes have to match color of the bridges ...

We rode through the big city of Rostock and finally found our place of accommodation, which is a very nice B&B with 2 little self contained cottages in the back yard. The „Blindenhund“ in one (with Pam & Doug!), Shirley and Rae in the other. The other four have been closeted into a couple motel type rooms in the main house.

Riders‘ Dictionary:
Camping ground - interpreted as cabbage roll
reindeer - as rain gear
mustard - moustache
quickie - a rushed cup of tea

TnT enjoying their "lighthouse"

Comments:
Rudi must stop being so German ....

.... and become a laid back Aussie!

Trevor gets a few beers and volume increases many decibels. Can you hear him in Australia after a few of these huge glasses of beer?

Day 06.kml for being viewed with Google Earth.

Go to Day 7

Day 5 - A Day full Of Smell

2007-08-24T14:14:00.145+02:00

We were all ready to leave, when Herr Jakubasch wanted to take our photo in front of his house. 30 minutes later we were allowed to leave after shaking all of our hands again and crushing the women‘s fingers!

Crew ready to leave

The ride today was quite eventful. Our first event was meeting up with a film crew near Jabel, who had been filming in Waren the day before. They let us ride through but we weren‘t allowed to talk as we passed. A little bit of indecision by our intrepid leader and his wife enabled Shirley and Pam to go around and around and around and around a round-a-bout. Decision finally made and off we went again with the last round of the round-a-bout in the wrong direction!

We decided to attached the trailer after lunch which was just as well because the morning ride was VERY rough - again, ask Trish about the smile on her face!!

... still 350 k's to go.

We went over miles of cobblestones, followed by a rough stony dirt track and then miles of road works. We met up with Doug and Rae at a beautiful spot overlooking a lake and had a picnic lunch at Linstow Lake.

... breezy lunch ...

We pulled into a resort and attached the trailer because we thought we had an asphalt bike path all the way to Krakow. WRONG !! About 30 minutes later we hit a road of large cobbles and poor earl became a little agitated. He settled down again (after jumping out of the trailer) and on we went.

.. heavy load ...

Only to have to stop again because Pam and Shirley had a flat tyre. First flat for the trip. We pumped it up and decided that it was the extra weight of the trailer was putting too much strain on the valve. A phone call to Doug and he came back to meet us and took the dog and trailer with him and the others kept on riding.

... flat ...

Every couple of k‘s we had to stop to pump up the tyre but eventually we reach our Hotel in Güstrow after 70 Kilometres.

... on the wrong side of the bike

Rae drove the car for the first time today, with Doug doing the back seat driving!

Doug‘s comment: "First time we have found our destinations without any deviation, hesitation, U-turns or screaming matches between me and Rae."

However, the return rescue trip made up for all of that because they couldn‘t find their way out of the town.

"Who the hell thought of this bloody trip and my mode of transport!!!!!!"

Day 05.kml for being viewed with Google Earth.

Go to Day 6

Day 4 - Chasing Day

2007-08-23T15:03:00.171+02:00

Today is a rest day but no one seems to be getting any rest. Breakfast here was very organised to say the least: a set amount of food for each person and watch out if you ate someone else‘s ration of meat. Rae drank coffee instead of tea and boy, did that create a problem!!!

This day TnT went for some extra rides; Shirley, Rae and Brigitta did the laundry. Pam and Doug had the tandem being fixed, while Rudi set off to find internet access and chased after them through Waren.

After Doug has spotted the icecream ...

and had eaten a carp ....
... he definitely needed some etxra exercise!

Go to Day 5

Day 3 - The Day of the Grumps

2007-08-22T15:03:00.129+02:00

We started the day by cleaning and oiling our bikes - by order of the leader! Just as well though because the tandem had a dicky front wheel which had to be tightened at the bike shop in Wesenberg.

On our way to Wesenberg we stopped and looked at an old manor in Seewalde, which we should all put in and buy! needs a lot of maintenance but what a beautiful place and in a beautiful area. Again we met up with Trish‘s clients because there was a assisted living home next door.

bad manor

Not far from here we stopped at a „local supermarket“. He even had a boomerang and two digeridoos in his window!! Very pleasant man and keen to talk to us Aussies.

four customers a day

At Wesenberg we found the bike shop and that was the first of the grumps. Stressed out by us Aussies, especially when Doug took Earl into the shop; and Rudi got grumpy because he was p***** off by the silly bugger!

Then a communication breakdown between driver and tour leader regarding lunch. So now we were surrounded by grumps!! Lunch bought and off we went.

On the way to Babke was the first encounter of three Italians dressed in „lovely pink, yellow and blue lycra“. Pam & Shirley dragged them off on both the straights and the hills and they won every time! Lunch was at Babke and there water was atrocious!

man always eat

Straight out of the bracken springs i am sure! it was better to go thirsty. the route took us through forests and undulating terrain. Not too bad, but the gears on the tandem were still playing up so made it very slow going for Shirley and Pam. As we stopped in Dalmsdorf to get water, we were passed by not only a horse drawn wagon, but the Italians again.

that's all riders need

At this spot the little shop had some Alpacas so Pam bought some wool to knit Rudi some sox. We soon caught and passed the Italians again.

Trevor and Brigitta left the Italians behind

They were serenading each other so we sang „Waltzing Matilda“ as we passed. At this stage the sky was changing with lightening and thunder in the distance. We turned of the main track to see the natural spring of the River Havel which flows to Berlin.

Grump at the spring

Brigitta and Shirley saw yet another naked man without telling Pam. Doug and Rae were to meet us here, but they were ahead of time for a change and missed us. He went on a cycle track without realising it is VERBOTEN and if caught a fine worth of 300 Euro!

We met them at Ankershagen at the next grumpy germans. The innkeeper told Rudi off for leaning his bike against the wall which made Rudi grumpy again. Then we couldn‘t move chairs so we could sit at one table. Shirley was rude enough to put her feet on the rail of the chair and got told off about that!!

Outside the heavens had opened and we kept dry by going into the Heinrich-Schliemann-Museum (The guy that discovered the remains of Troy). He was born in this little village. These people were very pleasant and allowed us to go and see the sculptures that were not opening until next week.

lookin' into a mirror

Rain didn‘t stop, so off we went on squeaky bikes with wet seats. Once again the italians had passed us, but not to be beaten, we soon zoomed passed them, leaving them in a shower of our spray!! Now our intrepid german leader got us lost! (Don‘t mention the war!) Mind you it meant that the tandem got their tires pumped up.

To cut the story short, we went down dead ends, through huge puddles, dirt squashy tracks, cobbled roads that you would not believe and finally we made our destination Waren after 79 kilometers.

Here our „leader“ once again became a grump: Brigitta separated from the group and panic set in. But being female, she knew exactly where to go and beat us to the pension. We cleaned up after a very wet and sweaty ride and walked into town for our dinner. After dinner on our way back the moonlight on the water made us howl like wolves!

whuuuhhhh

PS: Earl has been travelling extremely well in the car. We haven‘t put him in the trailer, because he would have been bounced out on these bloody cobblestones!!

Day 03.kml for being viewed with Google Earth.

Go to Day 4

Day 2 - Rainy in the first place

2007-08-21T14:19:00.074+02:00

Wallapoint - Canow 58 km
We were awoken by lightening thunder and heavy rain and concerned that we were going to get drenched. We all put on our wet weather gear top to tails.

still thumbs up!

Breakfast was rolls cheeses, eggs, sausages (Wurst), coffee and tea. And we all had more than we normally would have for breakfast. By the time we finished and were ready to leave, the angels had shone on us and the rain has disappeared.

what the heck we're lookin' at?

We went by the brick factory museum, we followed the river Havel with some exclusive waterfront homes into the rain forrest. (Normally it‘s a forrest, but when it rains, it turns into a rain forrest.) And then had a very interesting ride through the forrest with a bit of up and down and round and about, dogding some water puddles as we went.

faster than rain

Rudi, Trevor and Trish picked up the pace a bit as their adrenalin got carried away and right on time we met Doug and Rae in Himmelpfort for second time. We came across a lot of riders heading north (our direction). Smoked fish outlet on yet another lake in Santa Clauses hometown for German school kids.

too hot for me mate

So we rode along the boundary of the concentration camp of Ravensbrück (a specialist women and young girls camp) , where Trish, Trevor, Shirley and Rae took depressing tour.

Rudi went to the station at Fürstenberg picking up Brigitta who started her holiday today. Also Rudi posted the available news to our blog at a small internet company. We all met up again at the town square. We strolled around the town, looking at the local architecture.

On our way towards Canow, where we were to stay the night, we stopped at a small village church which was built in 1780. Beautiful metal crosses in the church cemetery.

Single riders comments about the last four kilometers:
Trish: "I am inspired to go home and buy a BMX bike."
Trevor: "Nearly kissed the trees, when i spotted the naked bathers ...."
Rudi: "I did not see them at all. Must have been a Fata Morgana!"
Brigitta: "Romantic it was."

Brigitta stays safe behind the crazy crowd

Tandem-riders (Shirley and Pam): "Who chose this bloody track? We take the made road next time not following the man on their BMX track!!"
Dougs comment on the village: "Love the locks!"
Raes: "Here is a beautiful cemetery."

mmh!

Day 02.kml for being viewed with Google Earth.

Go to Day 3

Day 1 - No Mars bars - No food - No water

2007-08-20T14:11:00.076+02:00

We were all up bright and early this morning and waiting for Rudi to arrive and escort us to the station. On the train, the Germans didn't understand the Australian language and they couldn't read the pictograms, so the conductor had to announce officially that they'd all had to move in order to make room for the bikes. He even didn't look at our tickets.

salute to the president: "G'day Horst"

Doug and Rae drove off in the car (black Alfa Romeo) and were to meet us at Oranienburg. Well that was the start of the cursing! Doug‘s name was mud. Somehow, the riders always arrived at the destinations first and had to sit around waiting for food and water!! We are not sure, if it was the driving or the navigating.

bunny me bunny you

There were a few events on the ride - ask Trish about her shoes. The HUGE trucks that passed us on the left of roads – no wider than a driveway - tankers, buses etc. and huge bushes and trees right to the edge of the road. Shirley kept telling Pam to duck but there was no way they could avoid being scratched by the trees.

scary aussies!

who's on the wrong side now?

On occasion we even had to pull right off the road to avoid being hit! Our destination for the day is Wallapoint and what a beautiful place it is. We even had an hour in a canoe at the end of our ride - Rudi didn‘t think we had had enough excercise riding, we had to give our arms a workout! We put the awesome foursome to shame, zig-zagging covering every lilypad on the river. Many canal cruise boats passed us and gave us a bit of a wobble, which was a little scary.

splish splash ...

We ended up in a large lake with nude bathers (didn‘t meet up with Kevin R.) but Trevor tried to get us row faster so he could get a better view! It didn‘t work with three women at the helm!

The day was rounded off with a great BBQ of pork steaks & some sort of german sausage (Thüringer Bratwurst), and very nice it was too. Doug & Trevor are currently sitting outside by the fire sharing a few bottles of wine 'n' beer.

consuming information

First days ride was 43 km - a nice easy start for our great journey. But without any Mars bars.

Day 01.kml for being viewed with Google Earth.

Go to Day 2

Day 0 - Preparation Day

2007-08-18T18:43:00.056+02:00

Well – The lot has arrived!

... but some of them needed assistance ...

... plus some extra XXL-Tucker ...

... but our friendship stays as solid as the Berlin Wall!

oops, I nearly forgot. We've had Tom C. came over for a short brake. He's shooting his newest movie Valkyrie in Berlin at the moment!

Strange lad he is indeed ....

and he did not join us at the Briefing-Dinner-Table ...

... but Shirley did'nt care! Everybody is now provided with maps and travel details for the next two weeks.

It took Doug roughly an hour to finish his Schnitzel which had a bigger size than the plate itself.

Pam and Shirley quite happily abandoned their post meal dessert. Stuffed!

Go to Day 1

The Tour Has Officially Been Announced

2007-07-04T17:00:00.015+02:00

And it matches appr. 585 kilometers plus extras and bloody detours.

Go to Day 0