Postings from Germany

Biking the North Sea

Not all of the North Sea, of course, but a little of it, more or less from Nordenham to Varel.

Friday, May 1, is a federal holiday, my Thursday class had cancelled, and the weather was cooperative so we decided to take an overnight bike trip, this time north.

The plan was to take the the train from Bremen to Nordenham, then head north around the "horn". We'd made reservations at a hotel in Tossens, a vacation destination.

Well, the best laid plans and all that. We loaded up, got on the train and then found out there was work on the rails and we had to take a bus more than half the way! A BUS?? Not easy with bikes, not nearly as quick as the train! An adventure before the adventure.

We were late arriving but it was supposed to be an easy ride, only 30K or so. Piece a cake. Yeah, that's what we always say.

Nordenham greeted us with sunshine and the water tower. Some of these old water towers are still in use, but not many. They've been converted to community centers, little museums or even private homes.

We started off, against the wind as ever. Seems it's always the case. When we bike from home we of course are making a round trip and pick which direction to start so we can have a little tail wind. That wasn't an option.

And then the weather changed. I don't know if the wind brought in the fog or if it was just fog, but we began to see the effects.

Here's a lovely field of canola, but getting hazy.

After that it got cooler and windier and foggier and then it was NOT FUN.




Plan B. Cut through the middle and get to the hotel and a place warm and dry. Thank goodness for warm showers, hot food, cold beer. Everything was better again.

Unfortunately, Bremen lost the first game of the UEFA semi-final against Hamburg. We'll play the return game next week, but in Hamburg and have to win by two. An uphill struggle to say the least.

Friday came up sunny and though not really warm it was ok. And it was ok but we decided the route was not so very very interesting.

There were lots of dikes. Lots of dikes. KILOMETERS of dikes. I've seen my share of dikes.



There was a light house or two. This one was a bit different what with the open spiral staircase in the middle.





And along the dikes were the sheep. Hundreds of them. Thousands, in fact.

But the lambs are the cutest. They aren't as alone as they look. Mama and the whole herd is just off camera.

One tends to think that on the other side of the dike is the water, but here that is not the case.

From the other side of the dike, the water is still what looks like a kilometer away - it's hard to even make out. Can you imagine that the water in the Weser can rise so much that all - ALL - of this land and green and path is covered with water and that the water comes up and over the dike? The last time the dike here was breached was 1962 - and they're in the process now of raising the dike in anticipation of more sea water from climate change.

But when you see this, you have to wonder why we worry so about the water. What water?? Is this low tide or what?? That boat is going nowhere soon.