Dedicated to a wonderful Mother Jean Noble 31/5/1929 - 20/8/2007 - may we never take our mothers for granted. - Goodbye Mum

GERMANY PAGE 4 November 2007.

Germany, has had a huge influence on the world. In the 1800's the Otto Cycle was invented and made to work – no not a bike, but the pre-cursor to the engine we use in our cars today. Do you wear “Jeans”? Or Contact lenses? Had an X-Ray recently?? These were invented by Germans. I do not have the space or time to list all the inventions that have come out of this nation over the centuries.

The German people have a lot to be proud of. President Kennedy of the USA made a speech in 1963 "Ich bin ein Berliner," that still rings in my ears today. Who can forget the reunification of this nation? A moment in history like few before. We, once again, are here to learn. Perhaps we will be lucky enough to peel back a layer or two on our journey amongst them, to get an idea of what they are all about? Lee and I sincerely hope so. Whatever happens we will continue to report things “as we see them” Warts n' all.

Thursday 15th November 2007 Hamburg Stay with Family
Approx. k's Average Speed kph Cycling time Hrs. Minutes Max speed kph Max temp we recorded 2ºC

In the home of Pen and Bernhard Kois.

Bike maintenance and new brake pads were purchased today... Tomorrow we pick them up and get some more maintenance done (professional). Mostly this is as a result of the terrible roads we have been forced onto.

Friday 16th November 2007 Hamburg Remain with Family
Approx. 3k's Average Speed kph Cycling time Hrs. Minutes Max speed kph Max temp we recorded 9ºC

Picked up our bike gear

and some maps

for our onward journey... Both the bikes shop and Map shop were very helpful... The bike shop did a little work for free which is always helpful
then back to Pen and Bernard's home to do the work :-)

New brakes for Mal and steady as she goes for Lee.. She is half my bodyweight and carrying a lighter load so her brake pads do not need replacing at this time.. We bought the pads for when the time comes..

Saturday 17th November 2007 Hamburg to Harburg
Approx. 42k's Average Speed 9.35kph Cycling time 4Hrs. 49Minutes Max speed 21kph Max temp we recorded 9ºC (again)

Plenty of light rain kept the temperature up today, which was great. We left our hosts at about 10am for the horror cycle through Hamburg... It WAS horrifying.. We thought we would duck in here and grab a new flag and some Vegemite..

Vegemite at $12.00 for a small jar was just too much....
We did not achieve much in the way of kilometres today despite 7hrs on the road and no lunch! Really looking forward to getting into the countryside. The trip under the “Elbe” river was via an old tunnel.. The bikes went into a “lift” for the long journey down, then we cycle under the river

and are taken up to ground level by a lift at the other side. Pedestrians and cyclists are the only ones that can use it... That's about it for today, very tired and ready for bed...

Sunday 18th November 2007 Harburg to Neu Wulmstorf
Approx. 21.72k's Average Speed 8.77kph Cycling time 2Hrs. 28Minutes Max speed 40kph Max temp we recorded 8ºC
Hopelessly lost, cycling through a forest with maps from our “German Map Specialist”, that simply are not worth the paper they are written on. Many locals tried as they may, to interpret the map, only to give up and say (collectively) to the effect that “the map is simply wrong”.

Whilst in the woods we met a cyclist who invited us to his home for the night.

Richard and Mai were excellent hosts and we had a great evening.. I am writing this the “next” evening as our conversations absorbed all the time. At the time Richard invited us, he did not mention that he had a Thai wife... When he told his wife that two guests were coming that like “Asian” food, he did not mention to her that my wife is Thai... The surprise for both of them was well worth the withholding of the minor detail. :-) Lee and Mai seemed to get on well and I know Lee would have stayed a week had she been able :-).. But we do need to get south...
Monday 19th November 2007 Neu Wulmstorf to Klindworths Gasthof (Sauensiek)
Approx. 24.18k's Average Speed 9.60kph Cycling time 2Hrs. 31Minutes Max speed 19kph Max temp we recorded 3ºC Dead FLAT

An early wake up at about 05:45 and up, ready to go about an hour later.. we finally left at 10am...

A freezing start with the temp a cool 1.4C it rose to 3C at about 1pm and quickly dropped back a half hour later. We stopped about 2pm as the light really is noticeably less at around this time... We had an hour or so up our sleeve should we not find a suitable campsite. We are now in our Chinese made Vango Tent.. drying as much gear as we can. Our clothes are in the washing machine and Lee is drying the inside of our tent which we packed frozen the last time we used it.

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