Day 45 Laurenbug to Jork

After a wet and cold morning the day improved and we had sunshine in the afternoon. Traveled via Hamburg.

Today 90km. Total 3,464 km.

Day 44 Gartow to Lauenburg

A dull ride on a wet cold and windy day.

Today 9 km. Total 3,374 km.

Tips re trains and ferry.
Our cycle epic ends at the North Sea at Cuxhaven - how to get back to the UK?
This is what we did so far:
Trains. At Magdeburg called into the Bahnhof (station); they speak English. Ask for a Saver ticket from Cuxhaven to Hoek of Holland, with bike. Ask for extra transfer times between trains, as there will be 4 or 5 changes. This cost us 54 Euros each, depart early. You need to buy the Saver a week or so ahead of travel. Normal fare is twice the price.
Ferry. Book online with Stena, Hoek to Harwich. We chose to travel overnight to save a night at the Hoek, and late onward UK travel. Stena insist you book a cabin, but good value. Total cost for us 2 was £140. No decent WiFi so we used the internet at the Tangermunde tourist office who also printed out the booking details.
Hope it all works.....!!

Day 43 Havelberg to Gartow

The first part today's ride was excellent as we rode along
a dyke with the Havel river on one side and the Elbe on the other.

Today 82 km. Total 3,277 km.

Day 42 Ragatz to Havelberg

A grey day but avoided the rain and a strong tail wind meant we made good time.

Today 88 km. Total 3,195 km.

Tangerhutte.

Day 41 Schonbeck to Ragatz

Again a bit of rain overnight so a grey start, but the day gradually improved. Actually had a tail wind.

Call into Magdeburg train station to book saver train tickets. Near the end now.

Today 66km.  Total 3,107 km.

Cycling on Elbe cycle trail:
We joined it at Melnik, in Czech, where the campsite is handy for the interesting town, has a huge supermarket next door but is noisily situated with average facilities.
The Labe (Elbe) then goes through great scenery, the Gate of Bohemia, and into the German Swiss Saxony, with dramatic gorges. Wonderful. Little Czech signpost ing.
Then you get Dresden and Meissen, beautiful cities.
After these delights, it gets a bit boring! Flat farmland. We had strong headwinds.
A warning about cobbles! Contrary to expectations, not all the German bike paths are smooth tarmac; there are many cobbled sections which are VERY rough riding.
More later, when we get some more of that elusive WiFi......

Day 40 Wittenberg to Schonbeck

Over night gale force winds but tents survived. A dull windy day that slowly improved.

We have now exceeded 3,000 km.

Today 102 km. Total 3,041 km.

Day 39 Strehla to Wittenberg

Start of the days ride delayed due to rain which then cleared. Though close to Elbe didn't see much of the river today due to the flood defense dykes. Today is the windiest so far making today's ride quite tough as the gusts in the last 20 km brought us to a standstill.

Today 110 km. Total 2,939 km.

Cyclists Church

 Tea break.

 Wind blows branches over the cycle trail.

Day 38 Radebeul to Strehla

Though the Elbe remains attractive the surrounding scenery is becoming flatter. Stopped off in Misen and took the factory tour which was fascinating.

Today 61 km. Total 2,829 km.

Day 37 Koingstein to Radebeul

Following a dramatic thunderstorm the temperature today is a good 10 C cooler. Over night Rob gained an addition to his tent.

Today a gental ride along a very scenic Elbe. Stopped off in Dresden for a bit of site seeing.

Have a superb campsite tonight next to the Elbe with no road or trains.


Today 60 km. Total 2,768 km.