Day 5 - Wednesday 21st June
"In spite of ourselves we'll end up sitting on a rainbow!
Steckelsdorf - Zesch am See: 178 km. Total 882km.
It's obvious that the biggest problem today will be the heat. It's
now 9.25 a.m. and it's already 29 degr. C in the shadow.
I went shopping in Ziesar after 55 km and have now covered 70 km. I was
forced to go in pit, because I have had no breakfast. Unfortunately I had
to cross the town on streets with cobble stones - terrible. I bought 1½
l lemon soda and 2 L ice tea. Probably that will last till noon. I make
oneself ill with annoyance when I remember that I had to pay DM 1.50 for
a small glass of ice tea last night, where I today could buy 2 L for DM
1.99.
On the whole the stay at Steckelsdorf Camping was not too inspiring. There was sand all over the place, but in my opinion a camping site ought to have grass. Furthermore I had the bad luck that my neighbour had a very talkative and loud guest, who did not leave until 10 o'clock p.m. A lot of dogs were barking most of the night. I simply cannot understand it. If people want to have a dog they should at least be able to make the animal shut up.
I got up a little after 4 a.m.; so did the mosquitoes.
I am surprised that I am able to start without problems on a morning like
this, when I come to think of how knackered I was last night. It's amazing.
The only thing I did yesterday after the ride was to rest.
The day was again very hot but without the alarming peak from yesterday. And in the afternoon I even saw some clouds. I spend a lot of time getting hold of something to drink. Otherwise things can very easily go wrong. Normally I buy 3 L each time, different kind of sodas.
Not too much happened today. The nature is not exactly divinely beautiful, where I ride. A lot of the roads took me through forests almost as boring as the ones you can find in Sweden. There were also a number of cobble stone roads and terrible bike paths and minor roads.
Very soon I decided to call it a day in Baruth, where I arrived already at 3 o'clock p.m. It was early, and I felt it almost like I had the afternoon off. At a gas station a man informed me, that I could find a camping site 5-6 km outside the town. However it proved that the distance was about 15 km and a minor part of the road was with extremely awful cobble stones and another part was with sand roads, where I can not possibly control the bike.
But at last I did find the site and put the tent up next to an elderly couple, who obviously lived their life right there. Their caravan is not to be moved, and they have a little dog. They have their very own lawn with flower beds. In the corner a little garden pixi is to be found next to a tiny pond. It's obvious that they are having a good time and they are very happy. I believe I would get bored to death, but after all it's not my caravan.
Tomorrow after about 70 km I shall arrive in Peitz, where I plan on visiting Friedrich Kuhlmann and his wife. Mr. Kuhlmann was a German soldier in Ellidshoej in 1945. He had his quarter on my neighbour's farm and last year he visited Ellidshoej. I have helped my neighbour a little bit with some German translations. I found out that The Kuhlmans were living on my route to the Czech Rep and wrote them a letter. I have not had any answer. They may not know I will come, and they may not be at home.
Yesterday I had good news from home. Edel had got very fine results in her examination. She was very satiesfied and happpy, and I am proud of her.
On the whole I cannot say that a lot of things have happened on my trip so far. But from now on I am going to ride in more exotic regions, so now things will defenitely develop.
For instance I have noticed that tomorrow I shall ride through an area where the names of the cities and towns are written both in German and in Polish (?). That's a little bit exotic? Now I will go and rest in my tent. I plan on doing as I normally do: Start early in decent temperatures. By the way I had to pay DM 9 to stay at the camping site. I suppose that's ok.
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| There are many storks in East Germany. We have very few in Denmark, so it's very nice to meet these birds. I had to wait for a long time before this one wanted to get out of his nest. |
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FACT BOX On this expedition I have use a tunnel-tent,
Eureka Gossamer. The tent itself weighs 1050 g, the 2 arches weigh 200
g and 9 pegs weigh 110 g. Where the tent is highest it is 67 cm. The initial
cost is about 1000,- kr. There is now a little hole in the tent, and
it is marked by slime guts and blood from countless insects and various
sorts of creeping things, which have been animated by an urge to spend
the night with me. |