Stade

August 21, 2010

'The Frau' doesnt supply breakfast so we were away bright and early. So easy to find our way through Cuxhaven and its port then onto the North Sea Cycleway. This follows along beside the sea, we were unable to keep up with the ships which were steaming along through this extraodinaryly busy stretch of water. A fantastic ride with the smell of the North Sea in out nostrils and the breeze at our backs. At Ottendorf we left the North Sea it will be six weeks or so until we see the sea again at Trieste.

Otterndorf a very pretty little town, it has a square around it on our map which means 'worth seeing' but could just as well mean 'very good coffee'. However it was after Otterndorf that all turned to custard. We had a good map but this is a tourist area with cycle paths in all directions. We followed signs but got bogged down in sand in forests, must have gone around in many circles and arrived at places that certainly werent on our map. It was beautiful country which we thought we would be in for life. Eventually we arrived in Hemmoor and saw a road sign to Stade and Hamburg so we did the boring thing and took the road. In Germany this means that there is a cycle path beside it so as far as safety is concerned there is no problem. When we arrived in Stade I felt pretty exhausted - a very kindly man showed us to this hotel and it was great to have a shower and a bit of a sleep

These lighthouses must have saved many sailors

This seems to be how you visit the beach here, you sit in one of these wicker seats - don't know what happens if there are more than two people

Lovely wild roses lined our way - they smelt good too

So much suprises me - this is the land of traditional windmills

Today's ride: 96 km (60 miles)
Total: 341 km (212 miles)

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