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Dannevirke, Thoughts and Nearly home.

Torsdag d. 22. februar 2018 - 26. februar 2018.                             (Update juni 2018)

Hamburg - Nord Neumünster 73 km
Nord Neumünster - Busdorf 68 km
Busdorf - Busdorf 12 kilometer
Busdorf pause
Busdorf - Flensburg 38 kilometer

Damerne fik først øjne efter klokken 8. Udenfor sneede det lidt og det var gråvejr. Vi tog afsked med Kirsten og Jens klokken 10 efter vi havde spist morgenmad sammen.
For at komme ud af forstæderne til Hamborg måtte der virkelig navigeres og her kom maps.me i brug. Det tog godt og vel 2 timer inden vi kunne mærke, at nu var vi på den anden side af byen.
Efter 3 nætter hvor vi havde sovet indenfor, ville vi gerne finde et godt sted at campere. Specielt fordi vi kunne regne ud, at det ville blive den sidste nat i telt på vores tur.
Der lå et tyndt lag sne på vejene, men senere på dagen fik solen magt og kom igennem sky laget og sneen forsvandt. Hen på eftermiddagen nåede vi tll byen Boostedt og her handler vi ind til aftensmad, så vi kunne campere.
På maps.me havde vi set at inden vi nåede Neumünster, skulle der komme et stort skovområde og det var der vi håbede på at finde et sted at gemme os for natten. Det vi ikke kunne se på maps.me var at det var et stort militært område og store skilte advarede om at man ikke måtte betræde skoven.
Øv, nu var vi nødt til at cykle på den anden side af Neumünster og det ville tage tid. Der var ikke lang tid inden det begyndte at blive mørkt. Så vi var pludselig også presset på tid. Vi besluttede os for at se hvad der kom undervejs, men alt var by og bebyggelse. Til sidst tjekkede vi for hoteller i nærheden og kunne se at 300 meter fra hvor vi stod var der et lille hotel, så det prøvede vi. Godt nok var det noget dyrere end hvad vi egentlig ville bruge på et hotel. Men samtidig var vi så tæt på vores mål at vi tænkte: What the hack. Lad os nu bare nyde de sidste dage.
For at få aftensmad gik vi på den nærliggende Mc Donalds. Det er jo altid hurtigt og nemt.
Inden vi cyklede afsted fra Hotel Firzlaff, havde vi fået fyldt depoterne op fra den store morgenmadsbuffet på hotellet. Hvis der er noget der bliver lagt stor vægt på i Tyskland, så er det en ordentlig omgang morgenmad, men alt hvad dertil hører.
Nu var det fredag morgen og om mindre end 7 dage var turen slut. Teltet var pakket for sidste gang ihvertfald på denne tur. Siden vi havde fået det nye telt i Tblisi i Gerorgien, var det blevt brugt flittigt og hvor var vi glade for at Friluftsland havde hjulpet os da det gamle var gået istykker.
I dag var solen fremme fra start og på den strækning vi skulle cykle, kom vi til at nikke genkendende til nogle af byerne. Både på turen til Nepal i 2009 og da vi cyklede hjem fra Koatien i 2012, havde vi cyklet i dette område.
Vi kom til Rendsburg og her kunne vi genkende en is cafe´ vi havde besøgt i 2012 og denne gang var vi ikke i tvivl om hvordan vi skulle krydse Kieler Nord-Ostsee kanal. Det gør man ved at tage en elevator ned under jorden, her er bygget en tunnel under kanalen, så fodgængere og cyklister kan komme tørskoet til den anden siden af kanalen.
Der var bare et probelm, idag var elevatoren ude af drift, hvilket betød vi skulle have de tungt pakket cykler ned af den meget stejle rulletrappe.
Vi måtte bremse med alle vores krafter og holde igen for at have kontrol over cyklerne, de par minutter det tog at komme ned. Godt nede kunne vi stige på cyklerne og cykle de 400-500 meter til den anden og her virkede elevatoren, som tog os op til gadenivau igen.
Det har helt sikkert ikke været billigt at lave sådan en tunnel, men vildt smart for fodgængere og cyklister. Der er jo altid vindstille og tørvejr i tunnlen.
I Rendsburg blev det også tid til dagens cafe besøg. En stor cappucino og sandwich bestilte vi og satte os tilrette. Imens vi sad på cafe´en kom et ældre ægtepar ind og gik lige hen til os. De havde set cyklerne udenfor og ville da gerne lige hilse på to langtfarende cyklister som os. Efter en hyggelig snak med dem, var der en mor og en datter ved at bord nær os, som kom over til os og sagde at de lige havde hørt hvad vi snakkede med ægteparret om. De var så benovet over vores tur, at de insisterede på at købet noget til os. En kage, kaffe måske en sandwich sagde de. Vi sagde det skulle de altså ikke, men det endte med at de kom med to kopper kaffe til os og ønskede os en god rejse.
Vi syntes jo bare vi er os og bliver lige overrasket hver gang vi får et møde som det på cafe´en.
Folk her i nord Tyskland, var meget interesseret og opmærksomme på os, det var på en helt anden måde end længere syd på. Da vi cyklede videre fra Rendsburg fortsatte folk med at hilse, nogen råbet: er det ikke koldt? Et sted på en mark gik en bondemand og han udbrød: Dass gigt es ja nich !!! Han mente nok at det var for koldt til at cykle på denne årstid og så med al den bagage.
Alle disse tilråb og opmærksomheden gav et ekstra kick og vi nåede til udkanten af Busdorf. Det var her at grænsen mellem Danmark og Tyskland gik indtil i 1864 og området er fyldt med historie. Bl.a ligger Dannevirke her også og for dem der kan huske helt tilbage til da vi cyklede i New Zealand, så vil i måske huske at der cyklede vi til byen Danneverk. Det var et af vores mål på turen. Nu kunne vi sige vi havde cyklet fra Danneverk i New Zealand til Dannevirke i Tyskland.
Nu da vi stod i Dannevirke, virkede det fuldstændigt uvirkligt at vi havde cyklet hele den lange vej. Men det var sandt.
Inden vi cyklede de sidste par kilometer ind til Busdorf, tog vi os tid til at kigge på Kograben, som er et gravsted for en dansk soldat der var faldet under krigen i februar måned 1864. Nu stod vi samme sted, endda i februar måned og vi kunne ikke lade være med at tænke: gad vide hvor koldt det havde været dengang og soldaterne havde sikkert ligget og frosset. Måske havde de haft hård vinter med masse af sne. Et uhyggeligt senarie havde der helt sikkert udspillet sig dengang for mange år siden.
Fra Kograben cyklede vi hen til Bed and Kitchen et bed and breakfast sted vi havde lejet os ind på for en nat.
Vi ville blive i Busdorf i 3 nætter, så vi kunne se på Dannevirke og for at sove ud, så vi ikke ville være fuldstændigt smadert når vi skulle gense vores familier og venner igen. VI havde også brug for, at have tid til at vende os til tanken om at turen var slut inden længe.
Hvordan ville vi føle når de sidste kilometer var cyklet? Ville vi bare sige pyt eller ville der melde sig en rastløshed? Kunne vi indfinde os i en dagligdag igen? Hvordan ville vi reageren år vi så alle igen??? Der var mange ting der gik igennem vores hoveder.
Bed and Kitchen var virkelig et dejligt sted. Her var tre lejligheder med eget bad og et stort fælles køkken og stedet så helt nyt ud. Så atter kunne vi nyde en nat i dejlige omgivelser og vi sov så godt.
Egentlig skulle vi ikke cykle næste dag, men da vi gerne ville se nærmere på museet Dannevirke og området der omkring, skulle vi cykle en lille tur på 5 kilometer, for at komme ud til museet.
Vi håbede på at der var åbent, men da vi kom derud var alt lukket og ville først åbne ugen efter. Men det var ikke helt omsonst at vi var cyklet derud. Vi ville hen og se noget af den orginale mur/fæstning som var bygget hele vejen rundt om Dannevirke i gamle dage. Vi ville se hvor murstenen, som ligger på museet i Dannevirke, New Zealand var taget fra. Det var hvad vi havde snakket om da vi stod i New Zealand og kiggede på murstenen. Da vi havde vi set den der, så måtte målet være at se hvor den kom fra. 
Nu stod vi her, ved Valdemar muren og vi kunne genkende den fra billederne vi havde set i New Zealand.
Et delmål var nået og nu havde vi kun en kort cykeldag op til Flensborg og den danske grænse. Imens vi stod der tænkte vi tilbage på alle de vilde oplevleser, mennesker og smuk smuk natur vi havde set siden vi forlod Dannevirke i New Zealnd. 1 år og 4 månder og et par dage var gået siden da. Utroligt!!!
Efter besøget ved muren, cyklede vi tilbage til Busdorf. Nu skulle vi finde det andet sted vi havde lejet os ind for de næste to nætter. Det var let at checke ind. Vi havde fået en kode tll en boks hvori at nøglen til lejligheden lå. Nu kunne vi lukke os ind, endda før tid og så skulle vi ikke andet end slappe af og vente spændte på at det blev næste dag. Det var der vi skulle mødes med Heidi´s bror, Percy og svigerinde, Laila.
Vi havde sovet længe og derefter begyndte vi at lave det hyggeligt i lejligheden. Vi flyttede lidt rundt på møblerne og dækkede bord, hvorefter sad vi spændte og ventede. Vi vidste ikke helt hvornår Percy og Laila ville komme, men vi var klar mere eller mindre fra klokken 13, da vi glædede os så meget.
Det virkede så mærkeligt at vi gik og dækkede bord og gjorde istand til at skulle havde gæster. Noget vi ikke havde gjort i lang tid. Uha hvor gik tiden langsomt. Flere gange var vi henne ved vinduet for at kigge efter dem.
Så med et var tiden gået og vi så bilen holde ind ude foran lejligheden. Vi smilede over hele ansigtet og der blev uddelt kæmpe krammer og vi skulle holde igen for ikke at stortude. Efter så lang tid, hvor vi ikke havde set hinanden, tager det tid inden at det virkelig går op for en at dette ikke var en drøm.
Så blev der ellers snakket og opdateret. Flere gange fik vi sagt: det her virker bare så uvirkeligt. Vi er cyklet hertil fra den anden side af jorden og så kommer i lige forbi på besøg. 
Inden vi havde set os om var der gået tre timer og Percy og Laila skulle videre mod DK. De skulle på arbejde næste dag og vi skulle på cyklerne igen. Det der skulle tage os 2 1/2 dag at cykle, tog Percy og Laila 2 timer i bil. Vi var klar over at de næste dage, ville blive en tur i den største rutchbane vi nogenside havde prøvet. Med gensynsglæde,smil og tåre.
Turen fra Busdorf til Flensborg, blev den sidste strækning i Tyskland for denne gang. Jorden var frossen og der lå en smule sne. Schleswig fjord var fyldt med slushice og bevidnede om det havde været koldt den sidste tid.
Men vi var nok klar over, at det ikke blev den eneste kulde vi kom til at møde inden turen var slut. Vi havde fuldt vejrudsigten nøje den sidste tid og der var der lovet snestorm fra næste dag.
Det var Heidi der var den mest realistiske, hvor Marianne blev ved med at sige: jeg tror vejr profeterne tager fejl.
Det sidste stykke ind mod Flensborg kendte vi godt. Lige den stræking havde vi cyklet 3 gange før og da vi nåede Jarplund. Cyklede vi forbi campingpladsen vi havde sovet på to gange.
Vi cyklede forbi Bauhaus. Vi havde et Dannebrogs flag, vi skulle have sat på Heidi´s cykel og derfro skulle vi have fat i en flag stang der ville passe til hendes cykel.
Vi fandt en rund pind, som var perfekt til flagstang. Betalte og cyklede videre til Vandrehjemmet Flensbed.
Her havde vi bestilt plads på en sovesal med 6 senge. Vi fik tildelt vores værelse og satte os i fællesrummet for at spise frokost og drikke kaffe.
Pludselig ringede Marianne´s telefon og det skulle vise sig at være en journalist fra Jyske Vestkysten. Uden vi vidste af det, havde MArianne´s forældre henvendt sig til avisen og fortalt dem at vi ankom til Danmark efter en cykletur fra New Zealand. Det var derfor journalisten ringede. Så vi brugte en halv time på et interview og fik at vide at der ville komme en fotograf ud til lufthavnen, når vi ankom der d. 01. marts klokken 15:00.
Vi kiggede på tripadvisor, for at finde en god restaurant hvor vi kunne få snitzel. Afslutningen af turen i Tyskland og ankomsten til Danmark næste dag skulle fejres på rette vis, altså med en snitzel.
Vi fandt et sted i en hyggelig baggård lige på gågaden og fik en lækker snitzel med tilbehør og en dejlig kold øl.
Det hele virkede fuldstænding underligt. Vi var cyklet hertil!! Selvom vi nok sad med en følelse af at vi var på en dagstur til Flensborg og kun få kilometer fra Danmark.
Det vildeste af det hele var, at næste morgen klokken 10:00, ville vi se vores forældre igen, da de kom og tog imod os ved den Dansk/tyske grænse. Hvor vildt var det ikke at tænke på????
 


Englsih

Thursday, February 22, 2018 - February 26, 2018. (Update June 2018)

Hamburg - Nord Neumünster 73 km
Nord Neumünster - Busdorf 68 km
Busdorf - Busdorf 12 kilometers
Busdorf break
Busdorf - Flensburg 38 kilometers

The ladies first got eyes after 8 o'clock. Outside it was a bit snowy and the weather was gray. We left Kirsten and Jens at 10 o'clock after we had breakfast together.
To get out of Hamburg's suburbs, we really had to be navigated and here came maps.me in use. It took 2 hours before we realized that now we were on the other side of the city.
After 3 nights sleeping inside, we would like to find a good place to camp. Especially because we could figure out that it would be the last night in the tent of our trip.
There was a thin layer of snow on the roads, but later in the day the sun got power and broke through the clouds. That was nice and we really enjoyed it. Later we reached the town Boostedt and here we shopped food for dinner so we could camp.
On maps.me we had seen that before reaching Neumünster, a large forest area had to come and that was where we hoped to find a place to hide for the night. What we could not see on maps.me was that it was a big military area and big signs warned that you may not use the forest due to military activities.
WHY???, now we had to cycle on to the other side of Neumünster and it would take time. It was not long before it began to get dark. So suddenly we were also pressured on time. We decided to see what was coming along, but everything was urban and residential. Eventually we checked out for nearby hotels and could see that 300 meters from where we stood there was a small hotel so we checked in. Well it was somewhat more expensive than what we would really spend on a hotel. But at the same time we were so close to our goal that we thought: What the hack. Let's just enjoy the last days.
For dinner we went to the nearby Mc Donalds. It is always fast and easy.
Before we cycled from Hotel Firzlaff, we had filled up our depots from the big breakfast buffet at the hotel. If something is being emphasized in Germany, then it's a good healthy and hearty breakfast, with all that matters.
Now it was Friday morning and in less than 7 days the trip was over. The tent was packed for the last time at least on this tour. Since we got the new tent in Tblisi in Gerorgia, it had been used diligently and we were glad that Friluftsland had helped us when the old one had broken.
Today, the sun was out from the start of the day and on the stretch we were going to ride, we could surly recognize some of the towns. Both on the trip to Nepal in 2009 and when we rode home from Koatia in 2012, we had cycled in this area.
We reached Rendsburg and here we could recognize an ice cream cafe we ​​had visited in 2012 and this time we were not in a doubt how to cross the Kieler North-Ostsee Canal. To do this you have to take a lift down under the ground, a tunnel has been built underneath the canal, so pedestrians and cyclists can get dry under the canal.
There was just one problem, today the elevator was out of order, which meant we had to take the heavily packed bikes down the very steep escalator.
We had to brake with all our powers and hold back to control the bikes, the few minutes it took to get down. Well down we could ride the bikes and cycle the 400-500 meters to the other side and here the elevator work ed and took us up again.
It has certainly not been cheap to make such a tunnel, but wildly fun for pedestrians and cyclists. There is always no wind and dry weather in the tunnel.
In Rendsburg, it was time for today's cafe visit. A large cappucino and sandwich ordered and then we sat down to relax. As we sat at the cafe, an elderly couple came in and went straight to us. They had seen the bikes outside and would like to greet two long-term cyclists like us. After a nice talk with them, there was a mother and daughter sitting near us who came over to us and said they had just heard what we were talking to the couple about. They were so pleased and stunned with our trip that they insisted on buying something for us. A cake, coffee maybe a sandwich they said. We said they should not, but they ended up bringing two cups of coffee to us and wished us a good trip.
We just thought we were us nothing special and got surprised every time we had a meeting like that at the cafe.
People were really interested here in northern Germany, in a completely different way than further south. As we rode on from Rendsburg, people continued to greet, someone shouted isent it not cold. Along the way we came across a farmer working in a field and he exclaimed: Dass gigt es ja nich !!! He thought it was too cold to ride in this season.
All these admonitions and attention gave an extra kick and we reached the outskirts of Busdorf. This was here the border between Denmark and Germany went until 1864 and the area is full of history. Among other things, Dannevirke is here and for those who can remember back to when we rode in New Zealand, you might want to remember that we rode to the city of Danneverk. It was one of the purposes of the trip. Now we could say we had cycled from Danneverk in New Zealand to Dannevirke in Germany.
Now that we stood at one of the goals of the trip, it seemed completely unreal that we had cycled all that way. But it was true.
Before we rode the last few kilometers into Busdorf. We took time to look at Kograben, which is a burial place from a Danish soldier who had fallen during the war in February 1864. Now we were in the same place, even in February and we could not help thinking and wondering how cold it had been then and the soldiers had probably been lying and had been frozen. Perhaps they had a hard winter with lots of snow. A creepy senary had certainly been going on back then many years ago.
From Kograben we rode to Bed and Kitchen a bed and breakfast place we had rented for one night.
We wanted to stay in Busdorf for 3 nights so we could look at Dannevirke and get some sleep so we would not be completely smashed and tiered reaching Denmark and our families. We also needed time to get used to the idea that the trip was at its end. Wich could be a bit scary thourght.
How would we feel when the last kilometer was cycled? Would we just say that was it or would you get restlessness? Could we ajust ourselves to a daily life again? How would we react when we saw everyone again ??? There were many things that went through our heads.
Bed and Kitchen was really also a lovely place. Here were three apartments with their own bathroom and a large shared kitchen and the place looked brand new. We enjoyed one night in a lovely setting and we slept so well.
In fact, we did not have to cycle the next day, but because we wanted to look at the Dannevirke Museum and the surrounding area, we went on a 5-kilometer tour to get to the museum.
We hoped it was open, but when we got there everything was closed and would only open the week after. But it was not completely in vain that we had cycled out there. We wanted to see some of the original wall / fortress that was built all the way around Dannevirke in the old days. And We wanted to see where the brick, which was located at the museum in Dannevirke, New Zealand was taken from. That was what we had talked about when we were in New Zealand and looked at the brick. Now we had seen it there and then the goal had to be where it came from.
Now we were here and the wall was still there and we could recognize it from the pictures we had seen in New Zealand.
Our goal was reached and now we only had a short bike ride up to Flensburg and the Danish border. While we were there we thought back on all the wild experiences, people and beautiful beautiful scenery we had seen since we left Dannevirke in New Zealand. Really: 1 year and 4 months and a couple of days had passed since then. Hard to understand.
After visiting the wall, we rode back to Busdorf. Now we should find the other place we had rented for the next two nights. It was easy to check in. We got a code for a box in which the key to the apartment lay. Now we were able to lock us in, even before time and then we did nothing but relax and waiting excited for the nex day. That was where we had to meet with Heidi's brother, Percy and sister-in-law, Laila. for the fisrt time in a loooong time.
We sleept nice and for long and when we woke up we began to make it cozy in the apartment. We moved the furniture and sat table after which we sat tight and waited. We did not quite know when Percy and Laila would come, but we were done more or less from 13 o'clock because we were so excited.
It seemed strange that we sat the table and were able to have guests. Something we had not done for a long time. Ohhhhh the time went slow. Several times we were at the window to look for them.
Then time had  passed and we saw the car drive up in front of the apartment. We smiled all over the face and huge hugs were handed out and we tried to keep calm. Wich was not easy. After such a long time where we had not seen each other, it took time before it really understood that this was not a dream.
Otherwise, we talked and got updated on a lot of things. Several times we said: this seems just so unreal. We just cycled from New Zealand and then you came to visit us here.
Before we knew it three hours passed, Percy and Laila were going to DK. They were going to work the next day and we were going to bike again. What would take us 2 1/2 day to ride, Percy and Laila took 2 hours by car. We were aware that the next few days would be a trip in the biggest rollercoaster we had ever tried. With pleasure and tears of joy.
The trip from Busdorf to Flensburg became the last stretch in Germany for this time. The earth was frozen and there was a little snow. The Schleswig fjord was filled with slushice and witnessed it had been cold for some time.
But we were well aware that it was not the only cold we met before the trip ended. We had followed the weather forecast carefully the last days and it looked like there was a snow storm on its way the next day.
It was Heidi that was the most realistic. Marianne kept saying: I think the weather prophets are mistaken.
We knew the last stretch towards Flensburg very well. That stretch we had cycled 3 times before and when we reached Jarplund. We cycled past the campsite we had slept on two times before.
We rode past Bauhaus. We had a Dannebrog flag, we would like to put on Heidi's bike and at the store we would like to find a flagpole that would suit her bike.
We found a round stick that was perfect as a flagpole. Paid and cycled on to the hostel Flensbed.
Here we had booked a room in a dormitory with 6 beds. We were assigned our room and sat in the common room to have lunch and drink coffee.
Suddenly, Marianne's phone rang and it turned out to be a journalist from the newpaper Jyske Vestkysten. Without knowing, the parents of Marianne had contacted the newspaper and told them we arrived in Denmark after a cycling trip from New Zealand. That's why the journalist called. So we spent half an hour on an interview and were told that a photographer would come to the airport when we arrived there on 01 March at 3:00 pm.
We looked at tripadvisor to find a good restaurant where we could get a snitzel. The end of the trip in Germany and the arrival of Denmark the next day should be celebrated in the right way, so ofcourse with a snitzel.
We found a place in a nice backyard right on the pedestrian street and got a delicious snitzel with accessories and a nice cold beer.
It all seemed complete strange and crazy. We had cycled here !! Even though we probably felt like we were on a day trip to Flensburg and only a few kilometers from Denmark.
The wildest thing was: we would see our parents next morning at 10.00 o´clock, as thay would wait for us at the Danish/German border. How crazy was that??????

 


Famous in Germany

Torsdag d. 15. februar 2018 - Onsdag d. 21. februar 2018       (Update juni 2018)

Münchenhof - Helmstedt 61 km
Helmstedt - Wittingen 76 km
Wittingen - Uelzen 33 km
Uelzen 2 dages pause
Uelzen - Lüneburg 44 km
Lüneburg - Hamburg 62 km

Vejret var ikke så sjovt som de andre dage, da vi cyklede afsted fra vores skjul på den forladte grund i Münchenhof. Vi fik først varmene efter en længere bakke, men blev atter kølet ned ad vi skulle ned på den anden side og fordi det var vand koldt. På en dag som denne, hvor vi fryser, syntes vi ikke det er sjovt at cykle.
Undervejs kom vi igennem mange små landsbyer og flere steder lå der stadig brosten i gaderne.
Landsbyerne er meget forskellige. I Aderstedt var der specielt en gade der havde mange flotte gamle bygninger og belysningen i ældre stil. Et andet sted så vi en kæmpe stor flot træbygning, som var ved at blive sat istand. Bygningen havde været togstationen i byen, men nu var banen nedlagt. Alle de små byer vi cyklede igennem havde ikke meget at byde på og ingen indkøbsmuligheder/cafeér. Så vi kiggede på maps.me for at se hvor den nærmeste by med indkøb og måske en lille cafe´var.
Vi havde virkelig brug for at komme ind og få varmen. 9 kilometer fra hvor vi befandt os lå byen Höfersleben og det så ud til at der var en cafe´. Marianne måtte spørge en dame om vej til den nærmeste cafe´ da vi kom ind i byen. Hun fortalte at ved supermarkedet var der en cafe´ hvor vi kunne sidde inde.
Vi var meget glade da vi fandt cafe´en. Nu kunne vi få varmen og nyde en kop kaffe og en sandwich. Men nu begyndte det at sne og sneen hvirvlede rundt. Det var ikke det vi havde håbet på, så vi begyndte at se efter overnatning i området.
Den nærmeste større by i nærheden var Helmstedt som lå 15 kilometer fra Höfersleben og her så det ud til der lå et par hoteller. For at være sikker spurgte vi damen på cafe´en, som kunne bekræfte at der var hoteller i næste by. Samtidig sagde hun at det "kun" var 15 kilometer og det skulle vi nok klare for vejen var mest flad.
Det var somom hun prøvede at give os mod til at cykle ud i snevejret. Hun skulle bare vide hvad vi havde cyklet igennem indtil nu.
Det tog os en time at nå til Helmstedt og vi cyklede direkte ind til midten af byen. Her lå rådhuset og turistinformationen. Vi gik ind for at høre om de kunne anbefale et sted. De kunne henvise os til et sted lige i udkanten af byen, som lå godt i forhold til ruten næste dag. Så der cyklede vi hen og var heldige at få det sidste værelse.
Det var bare så dejligt at komme af det våde og klamme tøj, få et varmt bad efter en kold og våd dag på cyklen.
Vi fik atter vejret med os og solen skinnede fra en skyfri himmel. Alt virker bare meget mere let når solen skinner.
I dag havde vi skrevet byerne ned på et stykke papir, så vi havde bynavnene at naviger efter. Det virker rigtig godt og så slap vi for at skulle tjekke maps.me i tide og utide. Når vi kom ud på landet cruisede vi imellem de små landsbyer, men dagen endte med meget trafik og en skuffelse.
Vi havde sat os op til at ville sove på hotel I byen Wittingen, men de to hoteller der lå der var meget dyre og så blev Marianne for nærig. Sådan en beslutning skal lige bundfalde sig når vi havde sat os op efter et dejligt varmt hotelværelse. Vi havde tjekket hvordan det så ud med skovområder i nærheden og så vidt vi kunne se havde vi kun et forsøg. Så vi fortsatte af den trafikeret vej ud af Wittingen og en kilometer udenfor kom et lille skov stykke. Det var det eneste i området, så vi tog et nærmere kig på stedet. Først ventede vi til vejen var tom for trafik og så skyndte vi os ind i den lille skov. Atter var vi heldige og fandt et egnet sted. Vi skulle lige lave lidt mere læ med nogle grene og så var alt fint.
Faktisk var vi så usynlige, at selvom vi kun var 50 meter fra en rasteplads, var der ingen af dem der holdt ind for at holde tisse pause om aftenen, der så eller hørte os.
Dette sted i skoven lige udenfor Wittingen blev også vores sidste wildcamping på turen, hvilket vi ikke vidste på det tidspunkt.
Da vi lagde os til at sove var vi velvidne om at vi ikke behøvede at stå tideligt op. Vi havde lejet en lækker ferielejlighed i Uelzen og da der kun var 33 kilometer dertil kunne vi vente med at cykle afsted ved 10 tiden.
Morgenen blev så hyggelig. Vi lavede vores müsli og kaffe og sad helt inden i sovekabinen i varmen og spiste morgenmaden.
På vej mod Uelzen kom vi forbi et kæmpe testområde for VW, det var flere kilometer vi cyklede langs med området. Vi kunne ikke kigge ind bagved bevoksningen og hegnet, men kunne forstille os at der var en kæmpe racerbane hvor der blev testet biler i lange baner.
Da vi nåede Uelzen er klokken lige blevet 12, hvor heldigt for så er det jo frokost tid. Vi finder en af mange
cafe´er og bliver siddende i en time. Fra cafe´en cykler vi mod lejliheden vi har lejet for 3 nætter og undervejs handler vi ind til alle dagene, så vi bare kan slappe af og blive indenfor.
Stedet vi havde lejet, så så flot og gennemført ud på billederne på nettet og nu var vi spændte på om det levede op til virkligheden.
Vi bankede på og ud kam manden der ejede stedet. Han bød os velkommen og fortalte at stedet var en gammel vandmølle og ha havde opkøbt det meste af området og bygget alt om til ferielejligheder. Han var gået på pension efter mange år som chef for Mercedes. Hvor han havde været udstationeret flere forskellig steder i verden. Da det gik op for ham at vi var på cykel, blev han noget benovet. Virklig og på denne årstid....helt fra New Zealand.....jamen jeg er imponeret sagde han.
Så viste han os til rette i den flotteste lejlighed, vi længe havde set. Helt oppe under loftet, hvor loftsbjælkerne var synlige og alt indrettet så flot og smagfyldt. Her kunne vi helt sikkert slappe 110 % af og samle krafter til den sidste del af vores rejse.
Vi havde fulgt How de sidste par dage og kunne se at han havde nået hans mål: Budapest. Så efter vi havde fundet os til rette i lejligheden, ringede vi til ham via Skype. Vi ønskede ham tillykke og egentlig kunne det havde været fedt at være sammen med ham i Budapest, så vi kunne fejre ham og hans bedrift.
Nu skulle han blive der indtil d. 2. marts hvor han skulle flyve hjem til Malaysia.  Det var kun hans kæreste der vidste at ham kom hjem, fordi han ville overraske hans familie.
Dagene i Uelzen gik ikke med ret meget andet end at slappe af. Vi var kun udenfor døren om mandagen, hvor vi kort snakkede med ejern af stedet og var et smut på cafe.
Snakken med ejeren gik hen og endte med at en journalist fra den lokale avis kom forbi og lavede et interview med os. Ejern sagde at han havde tænkt på vores tur siden vi ankom og hvis det var iorden ville han kontakte den lokale avis og høre om de havde lyst til at lave en historie om vores tur. En time senere sad vi i lejliheden sammen med Dirk fra avisen og lavede et interview på tysk.
Dirk var meget interesseret i vores tur og fik lavet en flot artikel. Han gav endda artiklen videre til en kolega på avisen, så alt ialt endte den med at blive trykt i mere end 40.000 eksemplar i Uelzen og syd for Uelzen.
Dirk har sidenhen sendt artiklen til os, da den først skulle i avisen nogle dage efter vi var cyklet videre fra Uelzen.
Tirsdag morgen da vi skulle videre fra Uelzen, havde Dirk prøvet at få fat på os. Han ville gerne have et billede af os hvor vi stod ved den gamle mølle. Vi havde hverken set mail eller beskeden på telefonen, så det var først da vi kom ned ejern, sagde at Dirk havde haft ringet til os og ham og han ville komme i løbet af 10 minutter for at tage et billed af os, hvis vi havde tid. Jamen det havde vi da og blev så ved samme lejlighed budt på kaffe i privaten. Så fik vi også den gamle mølle at se, som også var sat flot istand og starten på dagens cykeltur blev udskudt en time, da vi kom godt igang med at snakke.
En ting vi ville inden vi forlod Uelzen, var at cykle forbi togstationen. Den var udsmykket af Hundertwasser og var et vartegn for byen. Så da vi havde sagt farvel og tak til både Dirk og ejern, satte vi kursen ind igennem Uelzen by og mod togstationen.
Der var ingen tvivl om at stationsbygningen var et Hundertwasser kunstværk. De karakteristiske byggestil med forskellige farver og kurver var let at genkende, når vi havde set nogle af hans andre værker.
Efter togstationen var det let at finde ud af byen og nu cyklede vi på en cykelsti der bugtede sig igennem en skov med høje træer og varme brune farver hvorend vi kiggede hen. 
Det var tirsdag og om en uge ville vi krydse grænsen til Danmark, men allerede den følgende søndag ville vi gense noget af vores familie. Vi havde fundet ud af at Heidi´s bror og svigerinde skulle til Tyskland på en forlænget weekend og derved ville vores veje krydse hinanden og derved kunne vi møde dem for første gang i 1 år og 4 måneder. En vild tanke!!! Men inden vi nåede så vidt, var der stadig nogle cykel dage og kilometer der skulle cykles.
Vi skulle cykle til syd for Lüneburg, da vi havde kontaktet Doerte og Martin igennem warmshower, her havde vi en aftale om at kunne komme og bo ved dem for en nat.
Det var 44 kilometer, så det gjorde ikke noget at vi kom senere afsted fra Uelzen. Trætheden sad stadig i vores kroppe. Specielt Marianne syntes at små bakker var hårde at skulle cykle opad. Vi havde egentlig nok brug for en længere pause, men nu var vi så tæt på målet, at det holdt os kørende.
Indtil nu var det ikke fordi vi havde planlagt hvad dagene skulle bringe, men imens vi var i Uelzen, havde vi lavet en plan for den sidste uge.
Afslutningen skulle finde sted i Billund Airport d. 1. marts 2018 kl. 15:00, så det var derfor vi havde lavet planen, så vi ville holde tidsplanen.
Vi fandt frem til Doerte og Martin´s hus og atter var det søde mennesker der tog imod os. De var begge lærer og omkring de 30 år.
De havde også cyklet en del og var meget aktive. Da de blev gift forgik det på Tysklands højeste bjerg, Zugspitze. Inden de kunne sige ja til hinanden skulle de bestige det 2.962 meter høje bjerg, sammen med dem der havde lyst til at følges med dem til toppen. De der ikke var så mobile, kunne tage liften der førte til toppen.
Det fedeste af det hele var. Martin brød sig ikke om at gå med ring, så vielsesringene blev til to fede Suntoo sports ure.
Deres vægge var dekoreret med flotte billeder fra deres forskellige rejser. I kan nok forestille jer at vi havde en masse at snakke om imens vi sad og spiste den lækre mad de serverede for os.
Martin var ikke helt på toppen, da han havde fået halsbetændelse, så da vi stod op næste dag, havde han valgt at blive hjemme fra arbejde. Doerte skulle møde klokken 9:00, så hende tog vi afsked med først, da vi først tog afsted ved 9:30 tiden.
Vi havde glemt at tage vores vandflasker af cyklerne, så inden vi kunne fylde dem med vand igen, skulle de tøes op. Så fik vi taget afsked med Martin og fra Lüneburg satte vi kursen mod Hamburg, hvor endnu en warmshower host ventede på os. Denne gang var det Jens og Kirsten.
Vi skulle prøve at sigte udenom Hamburg, i det mindste så vi ikke kom ind i centrum. Kirsten og Jens boede i en af forstaderne til Hamburg. Deres hus lå lidt nord østlig for Hamburg, så vi skulle virkelig holde øje med veje og retninger. Især da vi nåede til udkanten af Hamburg. Her var det forstad på forstd og mange forskellige veje vi skulle finde.
Indtil nu syntes vi at folk havde været meget reserveret, men i omegnen af Hamburg skete der noget. Flere mennesker begyndte at lægge mærke til os og hvis vi stoppede var der helt sikkert en der kom hen for at spørge om vi havde brug for hjælp.
Da vi stoppede for at besøge en cafe´ var der to mænd der spurgte hvor vi kom fra og hvor langt vi havde været undervejs. Den ene manden sagde: I linger ikke nogen der er på en dagstur. Det måtte vi give ham ret i.
Vi nåede byskiltet til Hamburg, her stod der at der var 33 kilometer til centurm. Hamburg er den næststørste by i Tyskland efter Berlin og den ottende største by i hele Europa. Bare for at sætte bystørrelsen i perspektiv.
Vi fandt frem til Kirsten og Jens efter mere end 4 timers cykling og 62 kilometer. De boede i et kæmpe hus og havde en dejlig livs philosofi om at gøre mere af de ting du bliver glad af. På væggen i deres udestue stod der: Do more of what makes you happy. Jens havde taget det bogstaveligt og havde for nyligt sagt hans arbejde op, da han ikke kunne komme overens med arbejdesgiveren. Så Kirsten og Jens havde regnet på tingene og fundet frem til at de godt kunne klare sig, selvom han ikke arbejdede mere.
Der er vi andre nok ikke så heldige, men udsigt til en pensionsalder der hedder 68 år. Men hvem ved måske vi vinder den helt store gevinst....problemet er nok bare vi ikke spiller nok.
Besøget med Jens og Kirsten blev også en god oplevelse. Igen gik snakken lystigt hvor sjove og spændende historie fra rejseverden blev fortalt.
Næste morgen sagde Kirsten vi var velkommen til at blive en nat mere. Det var meget fristende, men nu havde vi lavet en plan for den sidte del af rejsen, så vi sagde tak for tilbuddet, men vi måtte videre.


English

Thursday, February 15, 2018 - Wednesday, 21 February 2018                                  (Update June 2018)

Münchenhof - Helmstedt 61 km
Helmstedt - Wittingen 76 km
Wittingen - Uelzen 33 km
Uelzen 2 days break
Uelzen - Lüneburg 44 km
Lüneburg - Hamburg 62 km

The weather was not as fun as the other days when we cycled away from our shed on the abandoned grounds in Munichhof. We first got warm after a longer climb uphill, but was cooled down again  as we were going down on the other side and because it was water cold. On a day like this where we get cold and are freezing it is not fun to ride a bike.
Along the way we came through many small villages and several places were still cobbled stones in the streets.
The villages were very different. In Aderstedt there was especially a street that had many beautiful old buildings and the lighting in a older style. Another place we saw a huge big wooden building, which was being rebuild. The building had been the train station in town, but now the track was closed. All the small towns we rode through did not have much to offer and no shopping / cafes. So we looked at maps.me to see where the nearest city with shopping and maybe a little cafe' would be.
We really needed to get inside and get warmed up. 9 kilometers from where we stod was the town of Höfersleben and it appeared that there was a cafe. Marianne had to ask a lady on her way to the nearest cafe when we got into town. She told us that at the supermarket there was a cafe' where we could sit inside.
We were very happy when we found the cafe. Now we could get warm and enjoy a cup of coffee and a sandwich. But now it started to snow and the snow swirled around. That was not what we had hoped for, so we started looking for accommodation in the area.
The nearest major city nearby was Helmstedt, which was 15 kilometers from Höfersleben, and here it seemed that there were a few hotels. To be sure we asked the lady at the cafe who could confirm that there were hotels in the next town. At the same time, she said that it is "only"  5 kilometers and we would probably do that because the road was most flat.
It was as if she tried to give us the courage to ride in the snow. Ofcourse she did not know what we had cycled through so far.
It took us an hour to reach Helmstedt and we rode straight into the center of town. Here was the town hall and tourist information. We went in to hear if they could recommend a place. They could refer us to a place just on the outskirts of the city, which was a good location compared to the route the next day. Then we went there and were lucky to get the last room.
It was so nice to get off the wet clothes, have a hot bath after a cold and wet day on the bike.
We got nice weather again and the sun shone from a cloudless sky. Everything just works a lot easier when the sun is shining.
Today we had written the cities down on a piece of paper so we had the city names to navigate after. It works really well and then we do not have to check maps.me on time and again. When we got out into the countryside again we cruissed between the small villages, but the day ended with a lot of traffic and a disappointment.
We had set ourselves up to sleep at a hotel in the city of Wittingen, but the two hotels there were very expensive and then Marianne became too nourished. Such a decision has to settle in when we had set ourselves up for a nice warm hotel room. We had checked the aera for a forest areas nearby and as far as we could see we only had one try. Then we continued on the busy road out of Wittingen and a kilometer outside came a small peice of forest. It was the only one in the area, so we took a closer look at the place. At first we waited until the road was out of traffic and then we hurried into the little forest. Again we were lucky and found a suitable place. We just had to hide us a little more with some branches and before everything was fine.
In fact, we were so invisible that even though we were only 50m from a resting place, none of the people that stopped for a pee break in the evening saw or heard us.
This place in the forest just outside of Wittingen also became our last wildcamping on the trip, which we did not know at that time.
When we went to sleep that night we were well aware that we did not have to get up early. We had rented a nice holiday apartment in Uelzen and as there were only 33 kilometers there we could start at 10 o'clock the next day.
The morning was so nice. We made our muesli and coffee and sat nicely in the warn sleeping cabin and ate the breakfast.
On the way to Uelzen we passed a huge test area for VW, it was several kilometers we rode along the area. We could not look behind the bushes and the fence, but could imagine there was a huge race track where cars were tested.
When we reached Uelzen, it was 12 o´clock, how lucky it's lunch time. We found one of many
cafe's and stayed an hour. From the cafe we ​​cycle towards the apartment we have rented for 3 nights, and on the way we went shopping for all the days so we could relax and stay inside all of the days.
The place we had rented, looked so beautiful and neet on the pictures on the web and now we were excited if it lived up to the reality.
We knocked the door and out came the man who owned the place. He welcomed us and told us that the place was an old watermill and he had bought most of the area and built everything into apartments. He had retired after many years as chef of Mercedes. Where he had been stationed several different places in the world. When he relized that we were on a bike, he became somewhat desirable. Really and in this season .... all the way from New Zealand ..... but I'm impressed he said.
Then he showed us the best of the nicest apartment we had ever seen. All the way below the ceiling, where the ceiling beams were visible and everything decorated so beautifully and tastefully. Here we could certainly relax 110% and get energy for the last part of our trip.
We had been following How the last few days and seeing that he had achieved his goal: Budapest. So after we found ourselves in the apartment, we called him via Skype. We congratulated him and really it could have been nice to be with him in Budapest so we could celebrate him and his achievement.
Now he should stay there until March 2, where he took a flight back home to Malaysia. Only his girlfriend knew him was comming home because he wanted to surprise his family.
The days in Uelzen we did not do much more than relax. We were only outside the door on Monday, where we briefly talked to the owner of the place and went to a nice cafe.
The talk with the owner went by and ended with a journalist from the local newspaper coming over and interviewing us. The owner said that he had been thinking of our trip since we arrived and if it were the case he would contact the local newspaper and hear if they wanted to make a story about our trip. An hour later we sat in the apartment with Dirk from the newspaper and made an interview in German.
Dirk was very interested in our trip and made a nice article. He even handed the article to a co-worker on the newspaper, so it all ended up being printed in more than 40,000 copies in Uelzen and south of Uelzen.
Dirk has since sent the article to us since it was printed in the newspaper a few days after we left Uelzen.
Tuesday morning when we were about to leave Uelzen, Dirk had tried to get hold of us. He would like a picture of us where we stood at the old mill. We had neither seen the email nor the message on the phone so it was only when we came downstairs that the owner said that Dirk had called us and him and he would come in 10 minutes to take a picture of us if we had time. Well, we were not in a hurry, and on the same occasion we were invited to have coffee in private. Then we also saw the old mill, which was also beautifully rebuild and the start of the day's bike ride got delayed one hour when we started talking.
One thing we wanted to do before leaving Uelzen was to ride past the train station. It was adorned by Hundertwasser and was a landmark of the city. So when we had said goodbye to both Dirk and the owner, we set course through Uelzen city and towards the train station.
There was no doubt that the station building was a Hundertwasser artwork. The distinctive building style with different colors and curves was easy to recognize after we had seen some of his other works.
After the train station, it was easy to find our way out of the city and now we rode on a bicycle trail that bowed through a forest with tall trees and warm brown colors around us.
It was Tuesday and in a week we would to cross the border to Denmark, but already the following Sunday we would meet some of our family. We had found out that Heidi's brother and sister-in-law were going to Germany for an extended weekend and thereby our roads would cross and we could meet them for the first time in 1 year and 4 months. Such a crazy thought !!! But before we reached so far, there were still some bicycle days and kilometers to be cycled.
We had to cycle to the south of Lüneburg because we contacted Doerte and Martin through warmshower, here we had an appointment to come and stay at their house for one night.
It was 44 kilometers, so it did not matter that we had a late start from Uelzen. The fatigue was still in our bodies. In particular, Marianne thought that small hills were hard to manage. We really needed a longer break, but now we were so close to the goal that it kept us going.
Until now, we had not planned what the days would bring, but while we were in Uelzen, we had made a plan for the last week of the trip.
The completion should take place in Billund Airport d. March 1, 2018 at. 15:00 so that's why we had made the plan so we would keep the schedule.
We arrived at Doerte and Martin's house and again they were so nice people. They were both teachers and swere in their 30ties.
They had also cycled a lot and were very active. When they got married, it was on Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze. Before they could say yes to each other, they had to climb the 2,962 meter high mountain, along with those who wanted to follow them to the top. Those who were not so mobile could take the lift leading to the top.
The coolest of it all was. Martin did not like wearing a ring, so the wedding rings became two cool Suntoo sports watches.
Their walls were decorated with great pictures from their various travels. You may imagine that we had a lot to talk about while we sat and ate the delicious food they served for us.
Martin was not quite well when he had a sore throat, so when we got up the next day he had chosen to stay home from work. Doerte had to work at 9:00 so she left before we were ready to go.
We had forgotten to take our water bottles off the bikes, so before we could fill them with water again they had to defrost as it had been very cold that at night. Then we said goodbye to Martin and from Lüneburg we headed for Hamburg, where another warmshower host was waiting for us. This time it was Jens and Kirsten.
We should try to aim around Hamburg, at least so we did not get into the center. Kirsten and Jens lived in one of the suburbs to Hamburg. Your house was located a little north east of Hamburg, so we really had to keep an eye on roads and directions. Especially when we reached the outskirts of Hamburg. Here it was the suburb of the surbubs and we had to navigate on many different roads that day.
Until now we thought that people had been very reserved, but in the vicinity of Hamburg something happened. Several people began to notice us and if we stopped there was definitely one that came to ask if we needed help.
When we stopped to visit a cafe there were two men who asked where we came from and how far we had been. One man said, "You do not look like someone on a day trip. He was certenly right about that.
We reached the city sign for Hamburg, here it was still 33 kilometers to the city center. Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany after Berlin and the eighth largest city in Europe. Just to put the city size in perspective.
We found Kirsten and Jens after more than 4 hours of cycling and 62 kilometers. They lived in a huge house and had a wonderful life philosophy: do more of the things you're fond of. On the wall in their living room there stood: Do more of what makes you happy. Jens had taken it literally and had recently quit his work as he could not get along with the employer. So Kirsten and Jens had figured out things and found out that they could manage even if he did not work anymore.
We are probably not so lucky, because we are looking at a retirement age, 68 years old. But who knows maybe we win the very big win .... the problem is probably only we do not play enough lotto.
The visit with Jens and Kirsten also became a good experience. Again, the talk went well where fun and exciting history from the travel world.
The next morning Kirsten said we were welcome to stay one more night. It was very tempting, but now we had made a plan for the part of the journey, so we said thank you for the offer, but we had to go on.


The dutch guy named Sven and more of Germany

Torsdag d. 08. februar 2018 - Onsdag d. 14. februar 2018                (Update juni 2018)

Pegnitz - Burghaig/Kulmbach 57 km
Burghaig/Kulmbach pause
Burghaig/Kulmbach - Hockerroda 83 km
Hockeroda - Weimar 64 km
Weimar Pause
Weimar - Othal Wald 75 km
Othal Wald - München Hof 69 km

Vi trak cyklerne hen over den dybfrosne mark og ud på cykelstien. Hvad tænker folk når de ser os cykle igennem byerne så tideligt på dagen? Hvor er de cyklister startet idag og hvad i al verden laver de på cykler på denne årstid?
Vi er 100 % sikker på, at ingen har fantasi til at tænke, at vi har sovet i telt på en mark lige i nærheden.
Med skov på begge sider af vejen cyklede vi videre imod Beyreuth. 16 kilometer før Beyreuth, kunne vi cykle på cykelsti, som var perfekt afmærket. Det nyder vi når vi ikke skal have GPS frem for at finde vej, men bare følge skiltene.
Lige i udkanten af Beyreuth stoppede vi ved en Brunner Bäcker, for at spise frokost. Imens vi sad og spiste, var der en mand der satte sig over til vores bord, da han ville høre om hvor vi kom fra og hvor vi var på vej hen.
Han cyklede selv, men slet ikke noget i nærheden af hvad vi var igang med. Han var meget imponeret og måtte fortælle det til hans kamerat der også satte sig ved vores bord. Et hyggeligt møde, der ikke er så mage af når vi cykler i Europa. Nok fordi folk i denne del af verden har nok i sig selv og nok også fordi de er vante til at se folk komme cyklende.
Fra Beyreuth fulgte vi vej 85 til vi nåede Kulmbach. Her handlede vi ind til to dage og fortsatte til Hotel KU som lå i landsbyen Burghaig lidt udenfor Kulmbach. Det var et hotel vi havde fundet via internettet og på billederne så det helt nyt ud. Hotellets bygning var et gammelt bindingsværk i rød og hvidt. Stort og flot. Måske det havde været en gammel mølle eller lager bygning for korn og afgrøder.
Vi fik cyklerne op på en stor terasse foran bygningen lige ved indgangen og gik indenfor. Der var ingen reception på hotellet. OK tænkte vi, vores første selfservice hotel nogensinde.
Via en mail vi havde fået tilsendt skulle vi checke os ind og så fik vi værelses nummer og koden til døren.
Vi have betalt 40 euro for en nat, som svare til 280 danske kroner.
Vi fik checket ind og fik det første værelse lige indenfor døren, det skulle vise sig at være en heldig ting.
Værelset var stort og lyst. Her var TV, spisebord og stole, en stor seng, lille køkken hvor der kunne laves mad og et badeværelse. Vi kunne læse at hotellet var åbnet i slutningen af 2017, så alt nyt og pænt indrettet.
Vi havde egentlig kun bestilt en nat, men blev hurtigt enige om at blive en nat mere. Både krop, sjæl og vores ben var trætte, så en ekstra hviledag ville vi nyde.
Resten af dagen gik med afslapning. Til aftensmad lavede vi burger og blev opdateret på X-Factor, som vi streamede via vores computer.
Vi var ikke udenfor en dør næste dag. Først sov vi så længe vi kunne og lavede småting som der altid er at lave på en fridag. reparere noget af vores tøj, vaske tøj i hånden og tørre udstyr. Altsammen så tingene holder længere.
Da det var blevet mørkt udenfor, kunne vi høre nogen pudsle rundt ude på gangen og så pankede det på vores dør. Da vi åbnede stod der en ung fyr iført vådt regntøj, cykelsko og baklava hoved beklædning. Med det samme kunne vi se han var langturscyklist.
Han spurgte om det var os der var undervejs på cyklerne der stod udenfor? Det måtte vi tilstå, det var os. 
Han spurgte hvordan han kunne checke in, for han havde problemer med at få det til at virke.
Det viste sig at han lige havde lavet recevationen og der skulle gå 30 minutter inden han ville få hans kode til døren. Men sikke et sammen træf, at han lige skulle banke på vores dør og at han også var undervejs på cykel.
Han hed Sven og var fra Holland. Han var på vej på en tur rundt i Europa og havde 6 måneder til rådighed.
Altsammen fik vi at vide efter han havde checket in og spist. For vi inviterede ham på the og snacks, hvor vi sad og snakkede.
Sven fortalte at han faktisk ville have været på en tur til Central Asien, men hans far havde forbudt ham det. Som vi kunne forstå, mente faren at det var for farligt. Vi tænkte begge, hvilken respekt Sven havde for hans far. Vi tror vi havde sagt til vores fædre, at det måtte de blande sig udenom og så havde vi gjort det alligevel.
Ud fra samtalen med Sven, kunne vi virkelig høre hvor meget han ønskede at cykle til Central Asien. Han viste alt om visum reglerne og alle andre ting der kunne være undervejs, fordi han havde undersøgt og læst så meget om den del af verden. Men en tur rundt i Europa på 6 måneder, ville helt sikkert også give ham nogle vilde oplevelser.
Sven fortalte hvor heldig han havde været med at købe en Santos touring bike, som var på tilbud og lige passede til ham. Her skal det siges at hvis ikke vi havde købt vores Koga cykler http://www.koga.com, ja så havde vi købt Santos istedetfor. Deres design og forskellige farver på cyklerne er topklasse. https://www.santosbikes.com/
Sven´s cykel var også topklasse i mat sort og med noget af det nyeste udstyr indenfor tourcykling. En ægte sort panter!!!
Inden vi gik hver til sit, blev vi enige om at vi kunne cykle afsted sammen fra hotellet næste dag. Sven skulle godt nok cykle sydpå og vi nordpå, men få kilometer kunne det jo nok blive til.
Næste morgen cyklede vi alle tre afsted fra Hotel KU. Vi fulgtes til vi nåede tilbage til vej 85, her tog vi afsked med Sven. Han cyklede i retningen af Østrig og vi satte kursen nordpå.
Ruten i dag tog os op i 585 meters højde og bød på en 8 kilometers tur op ad bakke. Jo længere vi kom op jo mere sne lå der. Vi havde kilpperne lige ved vores side og her var vandet løbet ned over og frosset til is og flere steder var der store istapper. Vi så skilte som pegede af til skisports steder. I Ludwigsstadt stod skiliften stille, hvilket vi syntes var mærkeligt, da vi syntes der lå nok sne.
Efter turen op skulle vi også ned på den anden side og her fløj vi ned igennem en flot dal, halvvejs nede skulle vi over en flod og her stoppede vi for at nyde udstigten op til Sloss Lauenstein, som lå oppe på en kilppetop med udsigt ned over dalen.
Vi nød at rulle nedaf, da det var stille og roligt. Sådan en nedkørsel hvor alt bare ruller og man ikke skal bruge bremsen. Helt perfekt.
Som overnatningssted fandt vi en forladt garage, hvor vi kunne slå teltet op indenfor. Godt nok var væggene dekoreret med nazistiske tegn og skrift. Hvilket gjorde at stedet ikke virkede så indbydende. Men vi var atter gemt væk, så ingen ville se os.
Det var februar og februar betyder fastelavn i Tyskland og det så vi en del af undervejs. Denne dag kom vi igennem en lille by, hvor der var fuld gang i slagermusikken og grand voskne mennesker der var klædt ud altsammen forgik i forsamlingshuset i landsbyen. Det ville Marianne filme og på den måde mødte hun manden der ejede stedet. Han kunne fortælle at festen var stoppet klokken 6 om morgenen og var atter startet
klokken 9.
Vi mødte også traktorer med lad, som var pyntet op til fest og farver. En ting er sikkert, det går ikke stille for sig når der fejres fastelavn i Tyskland. Det hele kulminerer 3-6 dage før askeonsdag i store optog med en lokale traditioner og underholdning på dialekt og efter sådan en omgang vil der helt sikkert være nogen der vil tænke - aldrig igen....på grund af tømmermænd.
Den del vi cyklede i var det forhenværende DDR (Østtyskland) og det var utroligt at se forskellen fra når vi cyklede i det der blev kaldt Vest Tyskland i 1989. Bygningerne så meget triste ud og flere steder stod store fabriksbygninger tomme.
Nogle dage forinden var vi cyklet over den gamle grænse og her stod et skilt, hvorpå der stod: Her gik grænsen mellem Tyskland og DDR indtil 12. november 1989 klokken 12:16.
Når man ser et skilt som dette, kan jeg ikke lavde være med at tænke på, at det ikke er længe siden.
Vi nåede til Weimar, hvor vi havde købt to nætter på et hyggeligt hostel.
Weimar var hovedstaden i hertugdømmet omkring 1800 tallet (efter 1815 storhertugdømmet) Sachsen-Weimar, senere Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach, her var byen det kulturelle centrum i Tyskland og brændpunktet for den tyske oplysningstid: her boede blandt andre Goethe og Schiller, der udviklede den litterære bevægelse, weimarklassicisme. Goethes berømte havehus, i hvilket han blev gift med Christiane Vulpius, som han havde giftet sig med af kærlighed, trods hendes meget lavere stand, ligger endnu i byen. Her skrev han flere af sine værker og litterære skrifter, som i dag står som helt centrale bidrag til den tyske og europæiske kultur.
I dag har byen cirka 65.000 indbyggere og er også kendt for den dystre tid med KZ lejren Buchenwald.
Vi havde besøgt byen i 2011, da vi var på ferie igennem Tyskland og Østrig, så det var ikke fordi vi ville gøre en masse i sightseeing.
Det passede godt med de to dage vi var i Weimar, for vi fik godt med sne og koldt vejr. Som vi så undgik på den måde.
Vi vågnede til den smukkeste morgen. Klar blå himmel og frost. Lad os bare sige vi var begge trætte og havde vi ikke den diciplin som vi har, ja så havde vi blevet en nat mere i Weimar.
Det er ikke mange mennesker der har råbt efter os på hele turen, men det blev der lavet om på da vi cyklede ud af Weimar. En mand der tydeligvis havde haft en dårlig morgen råbet: Radweg Radweg (Cykelsti cykelsti) idet han passerede os. Vi havde godt set der var en cykelsti på den anden side, men vi kunne ikke komme på den før længere fremme og faktisk var der 200 m op til en rundkørsel, hvor vi skulle dreje fra og i en helt anden retning. Nu cyklede vi af små veje med minimalt trafik og landskabet er ligesom små højdedrag vi skal cykle op over og ligger som bølger i landskabet. På toppen af højdedragene står massevis af vindmøller og vi kan se at mange af dem er lavet af Vestas.
Da vi når byen Sangerhausen, lavede vi en lille detour ind i byen for at handle ind i Lidl. På vej ud af byen måtte vi bekæmpe en 10 % bakke. Vi klarede det fint, da vi var godt cyklende.
Inden vi kom til Sangerhausen kunne vi se nogle kegleformet høje bjerge. Det så meget mærkeligt ud, de lignede vulkaner og der lå 3 - 4 stykker rundt om byen. Bare og i en sort grå farve stak de højt op i landskabet.
Det så ikke ud somom det var naturligt opstået og senere googlede vi hvad det var. Svaret var at de var lavet af affaldsjord fra kobberugravninger.  Utroligt at så meget jord kan graves ud af undergrunden, for at danne så imponerede høje bjerge.
Desværre cyklede vi i et område uden skov og derfor valgte vi at cykle en omvej, for at finde en skov og for ikke at cykle på en meget trafikeret vej. Vi fandt en lille skov og fandt et godt sted at slå lejr. Et stykke inden i skoven godt gemt af vejen under et tykt dække af grantræer. Under grantræerne var der om 1 - 2 grader varmere end hvis vi skulle ligge ude i det åbne landskab.
14. februar 2018 (Valentinsdag) bød på alsidig natur men en del floder og vandløb. vi havde fundet en rute af små hyggelige vejen uden trafik. I byen Ermsleben, skulle vi cykle igennem byen som var det en labyrint. Virkelig lille fin by og hyggelig. Ellers nød vi at vejert stadig var med os og vi kunne cykle i solskin og tørt vejr.
Når vi cyklede gik tankerne på at vi snart havde nået vores mål og hvad vi egenltlig havde oplevet af ting undervejs. Alt i alt havde vi svært ved at forstå det og det virkede helt ufatteligt at vi for mere end 19.000 kilometer havde sat os på cyklerne i Auckland i indkørselen ved Tamie og Wiliam for at starte turen hjem mod Danmark.


English

Thursday, 08 February, 2018 - Wednesday, February 14, 2018 (Update June 2018)

Pegnitz - Burghaig / Kulmbach 57 km
Burghaig / Kulmbach break
Burghaig / Kulmbach - Hockerroda 83 km
Hockeroda - Weimar 64 km
Weimar Pause
Weimar - Othal Wald 75 km
Othal Wald - Munich Court 69 km

We pulled the bikes over the frozen ground and out on the bike path. What do people think when they see us cycling through the cities so early in the day? Where have these cyclists started today and what in the world do they do on a bicycle in this season?
We are 100% sure that no one has the imagination to think that we have slept in our tent on a field close by.
With the forest on both sides of the road we continued to Beyreuth. 16 kilometers before Beyreuth, we could ride on a bike path, which was perfectly marked. We love it when we do not need GPS to find our way, but just follow the signs.
Just on the outskirts of Beyreuth we stopped at a Brunner bakery to eat lunch. While we were eating, there was a man who sat down at our table, as he would like to know where we came from and where we were heading.
He cycled himself, but nothing at all near what we were doing. He was very impressed and had to tell it to his mate who sat down at our table too. A cozy meeting that not happens so often when we cycle in Europe. We think it is because people in this part of the world have enough in themselves and probably because they are used to seeing people cycling in all kind of weather.
From Beyreuth we followed road 85 until we reached Kulmbach. Here we shopped food for two days and continued to Hotel KU which was located in the village of Burghaig a bit outside Kulmbach. It was a hotel we had found via the internet and on the pictures it looked brand new. The hotel's building was an old cladding in red and white. Big and nice. Perhaps it had been an old mill or stock building for cereals and crops.
We got the bikes up on a large terrace in front of the building right at the entrance and walked inside. There was no reception at the hotel. Ok, we thought, our first selfservice hotel ever.
Via a mail we had received, we had to check in and then we got the room number and the code to the door.
We have paid 40 euros for one night, which corresponds to 280 Danish kroner.
We got checked in and got the first room right inside the entrance door, it proved to be a lucky thing next day.
The room was big and bright. Here was TV, dining table and chairs, a big bed, small kitchen where we could cook and a bathroom. We could read that the hotel was opened in late 2017, so everything was new and nicely decorated.
We had only booked one night but soon agreed to stay one more night. Both body, soul and our legs were tired so an extra day we really wanted to enjoy.
The rest of the day went with relaxation. For dinner we made burger and were updated on X-Factor, which we streamed via our computer.
We did not go outside the door the next day. At first we slept as long as we could and did little things like always doing a day off. Repair some of our clothes, handwash our clothes and dry equipment. All in all, this way things keep longer.
When it got dark outside, we could hear someone messing around in the hallway and short after someone knocked on our door. When we opened there was a young guy wearing wet rainwear, bicycle shoes and baklava headgear. At once, we could see he was a long-term cyclist.
He asked if it was us on the bikes that stood outside? We had to confess that it was us.
He asked how he could check in, because he had trouble getting it work.
It turned out that he just made the recevation and it would take 30 minutes before he would get his code to the door. But what luck that he had knocked on our door and that he also was on the road by bike.
His name waas Sven and he was dutch. He was on a trip around Europe and had 6 months available.
All of that we were told after he had checked in and eaten. Because we invited him to have tea and snacks in our room, where we sat and talked.
Sven told he would have been on a trip to Central Asia, but his father had told him not to. As we could understand, the father thought it was too dangerous. We both thought what respect Sven had for his father. We think we had told our fathers that they should not interfere and we would have done the trip anyway.
Based on the conversation with Sven, we could really hear how much he wanted to ride to Central Asia. He knew everything about the visa rules and all other things that could see and meet underway because he had studied and read so much about that part of the world. But a trip around Europe in 6 months would surely also give him some wild experiences.
Sven told us how lucky he had been to buy a Santos touring bike that was on offer and it suted him perfectly. Here it should be said that if we had not bought our Koga bikes http://www.koga.com, yes, we would have bought Santos instead. Their design and different colors of the bikes are top class. http://www.santosbikes.com
Sven's bike was also top class in dissy black and with some of the latest equipment. A real black panther !!!
Before we went to bed, we agreed that we could ride together from the hotel the next day. Sven would ride south and  we had to go north, but we could ride together for some kilometers.
The next morning we cycled all three from Hotel KU. We cycled together until we reached road 85, where we said goodbye to Sven. He cycled in the direction of Austria and we headed north.
On route today we reached the height of 585 meters and offered an 8 kilometer climb uphill. The longer we got up the more snow lay there. We had the big rocks right by our side and here the water was overflowing and frozen to ice and in many places there were large ice cubes. We saw signs that pointed to ski resorts. In Ludwigsstadt the ski lifts stood still, which we thought was strange when we thought there was enough snow for skiing.
After the trip uphill we had to go down on the other side and here we flew downwards through a nice valley, halfway down we crossed a river and here we stopped to enjoy the sight up to Sloss Lauenstein, which lay on top of a huge mountain rock with a view over the valley. A gigantic sight.
We enjoyed rolling down when it was quiet and not to fast. Such a drive where everything just rolls and you do not have to use the brake. Completely perfect.
As an overnight stay we found an abandoned garage where we could pitch the tent inside. Fortunately, the walls were decorated with nazi characters and writing. Which made the place not seem so inviting. But we were again tucked away so nobody could see us.
It was February and February means fashing party in Germany and we saw that along our way. This day we came through a small town, where the traditional music played loud and groun up people were dressed up in costumes and it all took place in a house right in the middle of the village. Marianne really wanted to film this happening and in that way she met the man who owned the place. He could tell that the party had stopped at 6 in the morning and was restarted at 9 o'clock.
We also met tractors with a big trailers who were decorated for the fashing party. One thing is for sure, when celebrations have to be celebrated in Germany they will go big party. It all culminates 3-6 days before the ashes day in a big procession with local traditions and entertainment in dialect and after that time there will certainly be someone who will think - never again .... because to many hangovers.
The part we were cycling in was the former DDR (East Germany) and it was incredible to see the difference from when we cycled in what was called West Germany in 1989. The buildings were so sad and in several places large factory buildings were empty.
A few days before we crossed the old border, and there was a sign on which it stood: Here were the border between Germany and the DDR until 12 November 1989 at 12:16. 
A sign like that makes you think: That was not long ago!!!
We reached Weimar, where we had bought two nights in a cozy hostel.
In 1800 Weimar was the capital of the Duchy (after the 1815 Grand Duchy) Sachsen-Weimar, later Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach, was the city's cultural center in Germany and the focal point of German enlightenment time: here lived among others Goethe and Schiller, who developed it literary movement, weim classicalism. Goethe's famous garden house, in which he got married to Christiane Vulpius, whom he had married with love, despite her much lower status, is still in town. Here he wrote several of his works and literary writings, which today represent a key contribution to German and European culture.
Today, the city has about 65,000 inhabitants and is also known for the gloomy time of the KZ camp Buchenwald.
We had visited the city in 2011 when we were on holiday through Germany and Austria so it was not because we would do a lot of sightseeing while we were there.
It worked out well with the two days we were in Weimar, because we enjoyed the snow and cold weather from inside our warm room and avoided it that way.
We woke up to the most beautiful morning. Clear blue sky and frost. Let's just say we were both tired and if we did not have the diciplin we have, yes we would have stayed one more night in Weimar.
There are not many people who have been shouting at us on the whole trip, but it was revisited when we cycled out of Weimar. A man who had obviously had a bad morning shouting: Radweg Radweg (bike path bike path) as he passed us. We had seen that there was a bike path on the other side, but we could not get on it at this point, and in fact there were 200m to a roundabout where we had to turn right and in a completely different direction. Now we cycled on small roads with minimal traffic and the landscape was like small hills we had to ride over and lie like waves in the landscape. At the top of the highlands there were lots of wind turbines and we could see that many of them were made by Vestas.
When we reached the town of Sangerhausen, we made a small detour into town to shop in Lidl. On our way out of town we had to fight a 10% hill. We did well as we had good legs this day.
Before we came to Sangerhausen we could see some cone-shaped high mountains. It looked very strange, they looked like volcanoes and there were 3 to 4 pieces around the city.  The color was black/gray and they towered high up in the landscape.
It did not look like it was naturally occurring and later we googled what it was. The answer was that they were made from waste land from copper mining in the aera. Amazing that so much soil can be dug out of the underground to form such impressive high mountains.
Unfortunately, we cycled in an area without forest and therefore we chose to cycle a detour to find a forest and not to ride a busy road. We found a small forest and found a good place to set camp. A piece within the woods tucked away by the road under a thick cover of fir trees. Under the fir trees there were about 1 - 2 degrees warmer than if we were to lie in the open countryside.
February 14, 2018 (Valentine's Day) offered versatile nature with some rivers and streams along our side. We had found a route on small nice roads without traffic. In the city of Ermsleben, we cycled through the city as if it were a maze. Really little nice town and cozy. Otherwise we enjoyed the weather and were happy that we could ride in sunshine and dry weather.
As we cycled, our thoughts was that we soon had reached our goal and what amazing things we had experienced along the way. All in all, we had difficulty understanding it and it seemed absolutely unbelievable that for more than 19,000 kilometers ago we had taken the bicycles in Auckland in the driveway at Tamie and Wiliam to start our trip home to Denmark.


Germany - Fun, History and other cyclists

Lørdag d. 03. februar 2018 - Onsdag d. 07. februar 2018                       (Update juni 2018)

Schattenthal - Wimhof (Tyskland) 57 km
Wimhof - Dörfling 61 km
Dörfling - Regensburg 65 km
Regensburg - Leidersdorf 58 km
Leidersdorf - Pegnitz 65 km

Vi vågnede til en kold morgen næste dag. Helt indtil nu hvade vi jo ikke haft nogen rigtig vinter pånær lidt sne i Serbien og de gange vi havde haft natte frost. For at være helt ærlig, så troede vi ikke rigtigt på at vi ville få sne af betydning. Vi tjekkede vejr udsigten hver dag og det så kun ud til at blive koldere den næste tid, men ingen sne. Kulden skulle vi nok klare, det var straks værre hvis vi skulle til at cykle i store mængder sne.
Tid havde vi nok af og vi havde regnet os frem til at der var cirka 1200 kilometer der skulle cykles op igennem Tyskland og det havde vi mere end 3 uger til, så dags etaperne skulle ligge på omkring 50 kilometer, for at vi kunne krydse grænsen til Danmark d. 27. februar 2018.
Men først skulle vi over grænsen til Tyskland og efter vi havde pakket vores ting sammen bag ved brænde stablen, steg vi på cyklerne og satte kursen mod grænsen.
Det var cirka 5 kilometer og vi var spændte på hvordan grænseovergangen ville se ud. Lidt fra grænsen kunne vi se en stor mast og et skilt hvorpå der stod Bundesgrænse. Der var ingen check og dette var den første grænse siden vi rejste hjemmefra hvor vi ikke blev tjekket.
Det var virkelig mærkeligt at vide dette var den sidste grænse inden vi skulle over grænsen til Danmark og jeg må tilstå at det ramte lige i hjertet. For mig var det et stort øjeblik. Nu hvor vi stod i Tyskland og snart havde vi cyklet 19.000 kilometer, ja lige her gik det op for mig hvor vild en rejse vi var igang med, men også at den vilde rejse snart ver slut. Tårene kom bare ud af den blå luft. Det hele skulle lige bundfalde inden vi efter billeder og videoklip var parat til at fortsætte ind i Tyskland mod de sidste oplevelser. 
Vi var også snart ved vejs ende af vores rute på Euro Velo 6. Vi kunne dog stadig følge ruten til Regensburg. Men det må siges at der var stor forskel på stien i Tyskland i forhold til Østrig, hvor vi var blevet forkælet med asfalt på det meste af strækningen. I Tyskland var en del at ruten på grus/jordvej, som gjorde det lidt svære at cykle til tider, da stierne var blevet våde og muddert.
De steder hvor vi kunne cykle ad asvalt vej gjorde vi det, fordi at flere steder stod der at cykelstien var oversvømmet. Det var ikke lang tid siden at syd Tyskland havde bøvlet med store regnskyld.
Så nåede vi ind til Passau og sikke en hyggelig by. Smalle gader, gamle bygninger og et klokkespil. Vi cyklede lidt op i gaderne. Lige hvor Alt stadt går ud i en spids, møder Donau to ander floder. Donau mod vest, hvor floden Inn kommer fra syd og Ilz fra nord. Et flot syn. Passau kaldes også "de tre floders by" af samme grund. Det er  utroligt hvordan bygningerne kan blive stående med vandet der presser på fra alle sider.
For at forlade Passau skulle vi cykle over det kæmpe store Kachlet kraftværk fra 1924. Det er et stort sluse system og kraftværk som Donau presser sit vand igennem. Efter snart 100 års brug, skal hele kraftværket gennemgå en stor renovering.
Efter Passau begyndte vi at kigge efter et sted vi kunne sætte teltet op. Der var ikke mange muligheder. På et tidspunkt kom vi forbi en brandstation, her var der fuld gang i en fest. Massevis af mennesker stod udenfor og der var høj musik. Lige ved sidenaf brandstationen var der et område som blev brugt til campingplads om sommeren, den havde vi egentlig udset os, men nu hvor der var fuld gang i festen på brandstationen syntes vi ikke at det egnede sig. Vi fortsatte. Der var bare ikke rigtig nogen steder hvor vi kunne "putte" os og vi ville finde et sted inden det blev mørkt. Vi besluttede os for at cykle op til en stor gård, for at se om der var nogen hjemme.
Vi bankede på og ud kom en kvinde. Vi forklarede at vi var på en lang tur og spurgte om vi måtte sætte teltet op bag ved en af deres store bygninger. Kvinden sagde at det var helt iorden, men tænkte nok også: hvor kom de fra og vil de virkelig sove i telt, for i samme øjeblik begyndte det at sne med store snefnug.
Nu skyndte vi os om bag en stor lade og fandt et sted hvor der var lidt læ og hvor sneen ikke havde lagt sig endnu. Hurtigt fik vi teltet slået op og alle ting ind, Heidi´s opgave blev at ordne inde i teltet, imens jeg fik låst cyklerne sammen og børstet den værste sne af telt dugen. Heldigvis var det kun en tung snebyge som varede en halv times tid. Vi havde allerede tænkt at dagen efter ville der ligge et tungt lag sne, som vi så skulle kæmpe os igennem. Men så galt gik det ikke.
Vi fik tørt tøj på og aftensmaden blev et fyrstligt måltid. Kylling i kokos/karry sovs med løg, peberfrugt og pasta.
Alt var meget vådt næste morgen. Derfor tog det ekstra lang tid for os at stå op. Når det er koldt og vi udskiller en god varme inde i teltet, ja så dannes der en masse kondens. Det værdste er soveposerne. Hvis de ikke er tørre når man pakker dem sammen, så kan man ødelægge dynene. Så det har altid været vores første priotet. Sørge for at tørre dem så godt som overhovedet muligt.
Heidi sørgede for underholdning da vi lige var startede ved at cykle. Hun cyklede lidt foran mig og begyndte at synge højt: Born to be wiiiiild!!! efterfulgt af wrønnnnn wrønnnnnn....som lyden fra en motorcykle der gasser op.
Hun havde ikke set, at der var en mand der stod og fiskede lige hvor hun cyklede forbi. Han så noget forbavset ud og havde et sjovt udtryk i ansigtet, ja måske han endda var ved at falde i floden. Jeg grinnede så jeg var ved at tisse i bukserne.
Udtrykke Born to be Wiiiild, kom vi til at bruge en del efter denne episode.
Vi satte kursen mod byen Degendorf og fulgte Donau stien. Men måtte finde et alternativ, da et skilt advarede mod at stien var oversvømmet og vi kunne godt se at vandstanden var noget højere end normalt.
Omkørselen førte os forbi en kæmpe rasteplads tæt på en motorvej. Her var massevis af lastbiler, motorcyklister og andre der helt sikkert var på vej på skiferie eller bare ferie.
Rastepaldsen gav anledning til et toiletbesøg efterfulgt af en god kop kaffe. Inden vi cyklede videre købte vi os et kort over Tyskland. Så nu kunne vi danne os et overblik over hvor langt vi var kommet og hvor langt der var endnu. Vi syntes det er dejligt at kunne slå et kort ud og få hele overblikket.
Det havde været overskyet og kedeligt vejr hele formiddagen, men da vi nåede Degendorf brød solen igennem skydækket og på samme tid så vi pludselig en cyklist komme cyklende i modsatte retning.
HVAD ??? Er der andre på tur som os??? Ja, det var der og det var en ung fyr fra England som var på vej imod de himmelstrøg vi netop var ved at færdig gøre. Jack, som fyren hed var et stort smil. Vi var de første cyklister han havde mødt på hans tur, siden han havde forladt England d. 01. januar 2018. Så han var så glad for at se han ikke var alene. Vi kunne berolige ham og sige at han ville møde massevis af cyklister undervejs.
Vi brugte en halv times tid, hvor vi næsten snakkede i munden på hinanden. Vi havde gode råd til ham og han kunne give os nogle tips også.
Lige nu hvor jeg sidder og skriver er det 5 måneder siden vi mødte Jack og han er stadig godt på vej. Jeg kunne se igår på FB,at han var nået til Samarkand i Uzbekistan. So he is going strong!!! Well done Jack.
Det blev 3. nat i træk hvor vi fandt et sted til teltet. Igen måtte vi lede et stykke tid, inden vi til sidste cyklede op af en lille sidevej. Cirka 500 meter oppe af vejen gik en stejl sti op i en skov. Så vi måtte skubbe cyklerne op af den glatte sti som også var fyldt med tjørnebuske. Vi kom op på et stykke som var fladt og hvor vi kunne sætte telte op godt gemt af vejen under nogle grantræer. Specielt når det var koldt om natten, var grantræerne med til at holde lidt på varmen og give os ly.
Teltet var fyldt med is pga. frost da det skulle pakkes sammen næste morgen. Vi kunne kigge op på en skyfri blå himmel når vikiggede op igennem trætoppene. Så vejrmæssigt så det ud til at blive en dejlig cykeldag.
Vi frøs mest fingerne og tæerne på sådan en morgen og vi skulle have godt gang i kroppen inden de kom til live. Ellers var det ikke fordi vi frøs. 
Vi skulle stadig cykle med Donau radweg, men efter nogle kilometer er ruten ikke afmærket mere eller også har vi overset noget, så vi kommer til at cykle på en lidt mere trafikeret vej. Vejen førte os forbi en by som hed Rain. Det jokede vi lidt med. Vi ville ikke til Rain, for vi ville have tørvejr og gad vide om de nogensinden har tørvejr i Rain?? 
Undervejs mod Regensburg kom vi igennem små hyggelige landsbyer, som virkede meget afslappende og døsige. En ting vi blev skuffet over at se, var at i disse små samfund stod der cigaret automater, hvor der kunne købes cigartetter. Tænk sig i 2018, hvor der er så meget fokus på rygning og de følgesygdomme der kan følge med, er man ikke kommet længere. Efter vores mening burde de slet ikke eksistere mere.
Igen idag havde vi god tid, vi havde en aftale med warmshower host Peter og Martina om at vi kunne bo ved dem i Regensburg, men de var først hjemme efter klokken 17.
Vi havde fulgt små cyklestier og veje som have ført os indtil centrum af Regenburg. Her fandt vi en cafe´ og satte os tilrette med kaffe og en sandwich, for der var stadig mere end en time til klokken var 17.
Fra centrum og ud til hvor Peter og Martina boede var der et par kilometer, så omkring klokken 17 cyklede vi mod ders bopæl.
De boede i et lille hyggeligt byhus, som de selv havde sat istand efter de var kommet hjem fra en længere cykletur. Peter tog imod os og viste os tilrette. vi fik vores egen afdeling men værelse og bad. Normalt var det deres datter der boede her, men hun studerede i en anden by og var kun hjemme af og til.
Vi tog et tiltrængt bad og blev budt på lækker vegatarisk aftensmad. Imens vi sad og spiste fik vi hørt om deres tur og vi fortalte havd vi havde oplevet. Peter kunne give os et godt råd angående, hvilken vej vi skulle cykle næste dag.
Vi kom også ind på hvordan det havde været at komme tilbage til hverdagen efter en lang tur. Peter syntes det havde været OK, hvor Martina stadig syntes det kunne være svært at falde til ro og havde stadig en stor del udlængsel. Det var nok også noget af det vi var spændte på efter så lang tid undervejs. Hvordan ville vi føle når hverdagen atter bankede på????
Atter havde vi mødt nogle søde mennesker på vores vej og igen blev vores møde for kort i forhold til at få snakket nok. Peter og Martina skulle på arbejde næste morgen, så det blev ikke så sent.
De gav os instrukser på hvordan vi skulle komme ud af huset og få låst efter os til næste morgen. Vi skulle bare føle os hjemme og tage os god tid, da de var taget afsted når vi stod op næste dag. 
En utrolig gæstfrihed og hjælpsomhed, samtidig en tro på det gode i mennesket. Hvilket vi aldrig kunne finde på at misbruge. VI håber bare på at kunne give noget igen, nu hvor vi er tilbage og har indrettet et gæsteværelse til vores warmshover gæster, som vi håber på vil komme på besøg ved os.
Vi cyklede afsted fra Peter og Martina på en meget kold morgen. Klar frost og omkring minus 3 grader. Men igen havde vi solen, som skinnede fra en skyfri himmel.
Vi fulgte en rute via Maps.me ud af Regensburg og kommer igennem små hyggelige gader inden vi atter kunne sig goddag til Donau. Vi skulle følge Donau godt 10 kilometer inden vi drejde mod højre, hvilket betød nord på og herfra skulle vi følge floden Naab.
Ialt var det blevet til næsten 360 kilometer langs med Donau og det havde vi helt betemt nydt, endda så meget at vi måske engang vil tilbage og opleve strækningen sidst eller først på sommeren, hvor alt blomster og er grønt.
Turen langs med Naab, blev sandelig også smuk. Vi cyklede på et mix af landevej og cykelsti, hvor vejen snoede sig langs floden op igennem en lille dal. Vi havde forventet at det skulle blive med stejle bakker, men til vores fordel var de stejle bakker aflyst denne dag. Små bjerge, skove og landbrugsmarker følger os og det hele blev lyst op i det dejlige solskin, som gør alting meget kønnere.
Så de 58 kilometer vi cyklede den dag blev gode 58 kilometer. Overnatning blev atter i en skov, her satte vi teltet op og fandt så ud af bagefter at det kun var 5-600 meter fra et hus, men vi blev enige om, at når dem der boede der kom hjem ville de ikke gå udenfor, da det var koldt og derved ville de heller ikke bemærke os.
Efter mange dage med flad vej skulle vi til at cykle i mere bakket terræn. Fra start af en meget kold dag, var vi nødt til at cykle i vores dunjakker for at holde varmen. Efter byen Amberg måtte vi ned i de lave gear og begyndte at bevæge os op. Området vi cyklede igennem hed Vilseck og i det område ligger der en Amerikansk Militær base. hvilket vi fik at høre de næste par dage.
Det lød faktisk somom der var krig i området. Hele dagen kunne vi høre der blev skudt med maskingevær og kanoner. Nogle kæmpe brag lød der. Vi syntes det var uhyggeligt så meget larm det udløste og vi kunne godt forestille os hvordan det ville være at bo i et område hvor der var krig. Ikke sjovt overhovedet.
En ting der var interessant ved området omkring Vilseck, var nogle helt specielle klippeformationer og store huler/grotter i klipperne. Flere steder stod der skilte som pegende af til den ene hule efter den anden, men der lå også huler helt ud til vejen vi cyklede på. Så vi stoppede for at undersøge en af hulerne.
Den hule vi kravlede ind i var stor nok til at man kunne sove i den. Indgangen var en stor åbning, hvor vi kom ind i et rum på cirka 15m2 . Der var lavt til loftet så vi kunne ikke stå op. Nogen steder dryppede der vand fra loftet og nogle af bladene som lå på jorden, var frosset ind i små klare isformationer, så det lignede små kunstværker. En stor klar isterning med et blad lige i midten.
Vi havde nået til toppen af det stykke vi skulle op over og nød nu at rulle ned af bakke, alt imens vi stoppede af og til for at kigge på kilpperne der lå helt ud til vejen. Nogen steder lå der en kæmpe sten lige på kanten af en klippe og det så ud somom den kunne brække af hvert øjeblik. Et speceielt syn, som så ud til at være almindeligt i området, da vi så mange af slagsen. Flot ar det, med grønt mos voksende ned over stenene og alle de forskellige former.
Den første del af dagen havde vi cyklet i skov, som havde egnet sig til camping. Lige meget hvor vi kiggede hen var der steder hvor vi sagde til hinanden: Øj det var et godt sted til teltet.
Sådan var det tit, først ville der være overflod af campingsteder og nå vi så skulle til at finde et sted sidst på dagen, ja så var der ingen steder. Sådan endte dagen idag.
Efter et langt stykke hvor det  var øde, endte vi med at cykle igennem et område hvor der var landby på landsby og en masse huse. Vi var ved at nå byen Pegnitz, så enten skulle vi cykle extra kilometer og cykle på den anden side af byen eller også skulle vi finde noget inden vi kom ind i byen.
Det blev det sidste, lige inden vi kom ind i byen var der en stor mark, som gik ind i en spids i det ene hjørne. Vejen vi cyklede på gik nedaf ind til byen, så marken lå ovenfor vejen og langs med vejen var et hegn af træer og buske. Det passede lige nøjaktigt med at hvis vi trak cyklerne helt ned i hjørnet, så var vi gemt af vejen og der var fladt til vi kunne sætte teltet op. Så det blev vores sted for en nat.
Helt indtil klokken 22 kunne vi høre kanon og gevær skud i det fjerne fra militær basen og vi tænkte: godt vi ikke boede i sådan et område til daglig.
 


English

Saturday, 03 February 2018 - Wednesday, 07 February 2018 (Update June 2018)

Schattenthal - Wimhof (Germany) 57 km
Wimhof - Dörfling 61 km
Dörfling - Regensburg 65 km
Regensburg - Leidersdorf 58 km
Leidersdorf - Pegnitz 65 km

We woke up to a cold morning the next day. Until now, we had not had any real winter, we got a little snow in Serbia and then there was the times we had frost. To be honest, we did not really think we would get snow of importance. We checked the weather forcast every day and it just seemed to get colder but no snow. We would probably be OK with cooler weather,where it would be worse if we were to ride in a lot of snow.
We had enough time and we had figured out that there were about 1200 kilometers to be cycled through Germany, and we had more than 3 weeks, so our day avage should be 50 kilometers so we could cross the border to Denmark d. 27 February 2018.
But first of all we had to cross the border with Germany and after we had packed our things together behind the wood stack, we went on the bikes and headed for the border.
It was about 5 kilometers and we were excited about what the border crossing would look like. A little from the border we could see a big mast and a sign on which there was written: Bundesgrense. There was no check and this was the first border since we left home with no pas check what so ever.
It was really strange to know this was the last border before we crossed into Denmark, and I must confess that it hit me right in the heart. To me it was a big moment. Now that we were in Germany and soon we had cycled 19,000 kilometers, yes, it seemed to me how wild a journey we were on but also that it soon would come to an end. The tears just came out of the blue. It all had to be absorbed before we after some pictures and video clips were prepared to continue into Germany towards the last experiences.
We were also soon at the end of our route on Euro Velo 6. However, we could still follow the route to Regensburg. But we must say that there was a big difference of the path in Germany compared to Austria, where we had been spoiled by asphalt on most of the route. In Germany, part of the route was on gravel / dirt road, which made it a little difficult to cycle at times as the trails had become wet and muddy.
The places where we could ride on tarmac road we did because there were more places that the bike path was flooded. It was not long ago that southern Germany had plundered with heavy rain.
Then we reached Passau and what a nice city. Narrow streets, old buildings and a clock tower. We rode a little up the streets. Just where Alt Stadt goes out at a peak, the Danube meets two other rivers. The Danube to the west, where the river Inn comes from the south and Ilz from the north. A nice sight. Passau is also called "the City of Three Rivers" for the same reason. It is unbelievable how the buildings can stand with the water pressing from all sides.
To leave Passau, we would cycle across the huge Kachlet power plant from 1924. It is a huge lock system and power plant that the Danube pushes its water through. After almost 100 years of use, the entire power plant must undergo a major renovation.
After Passau, we began to look for a place we could put the tent up. There were not many options. At one point we came past a fire station, a big party was on the go. Lots of people stood outside and there was loud music. Right next to the fire station there was an area that was used as a campground in the summer, we had really appointed ourselves, but now that the fire station was one big party, we did not think it was suitable. We continued. There were just not any places where we could tug us and hide. We would really like to find somewhere before it got dark. We decided to ride up to a big farm to see if there was anyone at home.
We knocked on the door and out came a woman. We explained that we were on a long trip and asked if we could to put the tent behind one of their large buildings. The woman said it was all right, but probably also thorght: where did they come from and do they really want to sleep in a tent, because at the same time it started to snow with big snowflakes.
We changed to some dry clothes and we got a queens meal for dinner. Chicken in coconut /curry sauce with onion, pepper and pasta. So delicious
Everything was very wet the next morning when we woke up. Therefore it took extra time for us to get up. When it's cold and we emit a good warmth inside the tent, yes, a lot of condensation is formed. The most valuable is our sleeping bags. If they are not dry when we pack them, you can destroy the quilts. So it has always been our first prioity. Make sure to dry them as well as possible at all.
Heidi provided entertainment as we just started cycling. She cycled a little in front of me and started singing loudly: Born to be wiiiiild !!! followed by wroommm wrooommm .... like the sound of a motorcycle that gives full gas. What she had not seen was a man that was fishing right where she cycled past. He looked amazed and had a funny expression on his face, maybe he was even about to fall into the river. I laughed so hard that I nearly peed my pants.
We have used that frase many times since that day......Born to be Wiiiild!!!! ........ ;-)
We headed for the town of Degendorf and followed the Danube Trail. But had to find an alternative as a sign warned that the path was flooded and we could see that the water level was somewhat higher than normal.
The bypass led us past a huge resting place close to a highway. Here were lots of lorries, motorcyclists and others who were definitely on the way on skiing holliday or just vacationing.
We used the oppetunity to use the toilet followed by a good cup of coffee. Before we rode on, we bought a map of Germany. So now we could get an overview of how far we had come and how far we still had to go. We thought it was great to get a map and get a complete overview.
It had been cloudy and boring weather all morning, but when we reached Degendorf, the sun broke through the clouds and at the same time we suddenly saw a cyclist coming cycling in the opposite direction.
WHAT ??? Are there others on tour like us ??? Yes, there was and it was a young guy from England who was heading for the path we were just about to finish. Jack, as the guy was called, was one big smile. We were the first cyclists he had met on his trip since leaving England on January 01, 2018. So he was all happy to see he was not alone. We could reassure him and say he would meet lots of cyclists along the way.
We spent half an hour where we almost talked to each other non stop. We had good advice for him and he could give us some tips as well.
Right now, where I'm sitting and writing, it's 5 months since we met Jack and he's still well on his way. I could see yesterday at FB that he had reached Samarkand in Uzbekistan. So he is going strong !!! Well done Jack.
It was the third night in a row where we found a place for the tent. Again, we had to wait a while before we finally cycled up a small side road. Around 500 meters up the road was a steep path up into a forest. So we had to push the bikes up of the slippery trail that was also filled with torn bushes. We came up on a piece that was flat and where we could put up the tent well tucked away under some fir trees. Especially when it was cold at night, the fir trees helped keep warm and give us shelter.
The tent was filled with ice due to frost when we packed it the next morning. We could look up to a blue sky when weakened through the tree tops. So weathery it seemed to be a nice bike day.
We froze most of our fingers and toes on a morning like this and we had to get the body going before they came to life. Otherwise we did not freze.
We were still cycling along the Danube radweg, but after a few miles the route was not marked anymore or we had overlooked something so we got to ride on a slightly more trafficy road. The road led us past a town called Rain. We made some jokes about the name: Rain, because we did not want Rain and wondered if they ever was dry weather dry in Rain ??
Along the way towards Regensburg we came through small cozy villages, which seemed very relaxing and drowsy. One thing we were disappointed to see was that in these small communities there were cigarette vending machines where cigartets could be purchased. Imagine in 2018 where there is so much focus on smoking and the complications that you can get from smoking. In our opinion, they should not exist anymore or anywhere.
Again, we had a lots of time, we had a deal with warmshower host Peter and Martina that we could come and stay at thier house in Regensburg, but they were not at home until after 17:00.
We had followed small cycling paths and roads that led us to the center of Regenburg. Here we found a cafe and got some coffee and sandwiches, because there was still more than an hour until 17:00.
From the center to where Peter and Martina lived there were a couple of kilometers, so around 17 o'clock we rode to their place of residence.
They lived in a small cozy townhouse, which they had renovated themselves after they had returned home from a longer cycle trip. Peter welcomed us and showed us the arrangement. we got our own room and bathroom. Normally, it was their daughter who lived here, but she studied in another city and was only home from time to time.
We took a needed bath and were invited for some delicious vegatarian dinner taht Peter and Martina had prepared. While we were eating we talked about their trip and we told what we had experienced. Peter could give us a good advice as to which route we should ride the next day.
We also came across how it had been to come back to everyday life after a long trip. Peter thought it had been OK, where Martina still thought it could be hard to settle down and still had a great deal of travel fever. That was probably something we were excited about after so long. How would we feel when everyday life again knocked on our door????
Again, we had met some sweet people on our way and again our meeting was too short in terms of talking enough. Peter and Martina were going to work the next morning so it did not get too late in the evening before we went to bed
They gave us instructions on how to get out of the house and how to lock up for the next morning. We just had to feel at home and take our time as they left early for work and we did not have to get up at the same time.
An amazing hospitality and helpfulness, while believing in the good in man. Which we never could misuse. We just hope to give something again, now that we are back and have set up a guest room for our warmshower guests, which we hope will come visit us.
We rode off from Peter and Martina on a very cold morning. Clear frost and about minus 3 degrees. But again we had the sun that shone from a cloudless sky.
We followed a route via Maps.me out of Regensburg and come through small pleasant streets before we could enjoy the Danube again. We had to follow the Danube just 10 kilometers before turning to the right, which meant north and from here we should follow the Naab river.
In total, it had been almost 360 kilometers along the Danube and we had quite enjoyed it, even so much that we might even want to go back and experience the stretch at the start or end of summer sometime, where everything flowers and is green.
The trip alongside Naab was also beautiful. We cycled on a mix of country road and bike path, where the road was winding along the river through a small valley. We had expected steep slopes, but to our advantage were the steep slopes canceled this day. Small mountains, forests and farmlands follow us and all of it was bright in the beautiful sunshine, which makes everything much nicer.
So the 58 kilometers we cycled that day became nice 58 kilometers. Our Overnight stay was in a forest, we put the tent up and found out that it was only 5-600 meters from a house, but we agreed that when those living there came home they would not go outside, because it was cold and so they would not notice us either.
After many days on flat road we had to cycle in more hilly terrain. From the start of a very cold day, we had to cycle in our down jackets to keep warm. After the city of Amberg we had to find the low gear and start moving up. The area we cycled through was called Vilseck and in the area there is an American Military Base. which we heard the next couple of days.
It actually sounded like there was war in the area. Throughout the day we could hear shots from machine guns and cannons. Some huge boom sounded. We thought it was scary so much noise it triggered and we could imagine how it would be to live in an area where there was war. Not funny at all.
One thing that was interesting at the area around Vilseck was some very special rock formations and huge caves in the rocks. In several places there were signs pointing to one cave after another the other, but there were also caves just beside the road we were cycling on. So we stopped to investigate one of the caves.
The cave we crawled into was big enough so you could sleep in it. The entrance was a big opening, where we entered a space of about 15m2. There was low ceilings so we could not stand up. Some places water dripped from the ceiling and some of the leaves that lay on the ground were frozen into small clear ice formations, so it looked like little works of art. A large clear icing with a leaf right in the middle.
We had reached the top of the piece we had to go over and now rolled down the hill, while we stopped occasionally to look at the cliffs just beside the road. In some places there was a huge rock right on the edge of another rock and it looked like it could break every moment. A special sight, which seemed to be common in the area, as we saw many of the kind. Beautiful it was, with green moss growing over the rocks and all the different shapes.
During the first part of the day we had cycled in a forest that had been suitable for camping. No matter where we looked, there were places where we said to eachother: "Oh, that was a good place for the tent.
At first, there would be plenty of camp spots and now when we had to find a place at the end of the day, yes there was no place. That is how the day ended today.
After a long distance where it was deserted we ended up cycling through an area where there was village on village and a lot of houses. We were reaching the city of Pegnitz, so either we had to ride extra miles and cycle on the other side of the city or we should find something before we got into town.
It became the last thing, just before we got into the city there was a large field that went into a tip in one corner. The road we were cycling on went down to the city, so the ground lay above the road and along the road was a fence of trees and shrubs. It just worked out that if we pulled the bikes all the way down to the corner, we were tucked away and it was flat so we could put the tent right there. So it became our place for the night.
Until 22 o'clock we could hear the bomb and gun shot in the distance from the military base and we thought: How lucky we did not live in such an area daily.