Prepping for a Bike Tour

 We'll do another bike tour this summer, or we hope to. We're booked to go from Lübeck to Salstrund in late July, and after months of doing little to nothing, we are trying to get into shape. Today, a trip to Elsfleth. We've done this little trip lots of times, but it is always fun. It is about 50 K round trip (31 miles).

The start means going across the river, and there were kayakers making their way back to the club house. We tried a course a bunch of years ago, but I could only go in circles. Gave that up.

Across the river, the sheep were grazing along the dike and then doing their resting and chewing thing. Really, they seem to find the most uncomfortable places to rest - against a wire fence? Ok, I am not a sheep, so I don't know.

A bit further along, we heard a stork making its clacking noises and looked up - and there in the nest, a stork. So cool.

There's a little bridge along the way where you have to cross a place where three small branches come together. Pretty, or what?

We have this favorite place in Elsfleth for a little pause (coffee, cake, you know!) but they've changed their hours! Not open till 5PM. We asked some locals hanging around where to go and a rather large person who looked like he'd know where you could get food, recommended the restaurant at the local yacht harbor. It was nice, but pricey! Nevertheless, cake.

Before heading back, we saw the three-master returning to the port and had to say hello. She's a cutie. 

Then the return. We took a slightly different route home but they are all (in parts) lovely.

Back home again. Sit on a soft chair and rest the bum a bit. 

P.S.  A small shock this AM when I got up to shower and looked at my arms - so red! I'll have to remember we just haven't seen a lot of sun this year and my skin is no longer used to it.  Ouch.