Training for the Danube

We bike all the time.  Even in the winter, even in the snow, not so much in the rain except when we can't help it.  We don't really like getting wet (my face is screwing up as I write that) though we have rain gear, of course.

Next week we start on our long-postponed trip along the Danube Bike Trail.  Oh oh oh.  We'd done all the prep and reservations and etc. in 2011 and then I broke my foot.  No biking. No tour.

But now!!  It is time.  So after a way too lazy summer and not enough visits to the gym and not enough Ks on the bikes, we are in a deficit situation.  On the bikes!

Saturday we biked into town with friends to visit an exhibit.  29k.

Sunday, it was bigger. Longer.  We are training!

We took the train to Farge, north of here and then peddled up to Harrier Sand.  There are so many of the "standard" north German landscape views here.  The views are simple and simply wonderful.

 Since we bike along the river, we necessarily bike along the dikes.  We're raising the dikes!  It is major work and it takes time but we're trying to keep from being flooded.

 It's almost impossible to get lost here: there are signs to tell you to go wherever you want to go!

 Getting to the ferry to take us over the Weser, we passed over a little bridge that connects the Weser to some little tributaries.  Tide is out!

 Here's Brake from the other side of the river.  

From Harrier Sand we took the little ferry over the Weser to Brake.  No cars, only bikes and pedestrians and a dog or two.

In Elsfleth we stopped for Kaffee und Kuchen.  It was good - it always is.  Werner had hazelnut cream cake and I had cherry cream cake.  I should just put it on my tummy since that's were is goes and stays.

Then it was down to Lemwerder along the Weser.  We've done this round so many times, but I love it. There have been a few changes over the years - additions of bike paths on the dikes or next to the roads that make it easier for drivers and bikers. I never took my neck scarf off - the wind was cool - but otherwise, I would take these temperatures next week.

So, about 50K, about 3 1/2 hours.  Not too bad.