Day 50: Wed 6 Aug - Rathenow to Wittenberge, 89km

The start of week 8.

10 (feels like 7) - 22 deg, talk about a change in the weather, no rain, but a very cool morning, with a very friendly headwind (up to 50km/hr!)

Ride: 89km, total time: 7h48m; moving time: 5h17m

Ride G: 5km; total: 1,598km

Ride total W: 1,471km

Walk G: 2km; total: 390km

Walk W: 2km; total: 350km

A much better ride today, even though we had to compete with an annoying headwind, gusting to 50km/h! It was dry and we could follow a well defined route so no complaints. 

We reacquainted ourselves with the Elbe River today, it was good to be riding back beside it again, albeit fairly briefly. Last night there was much discussion about which route to take today and we decided to head directly to the Elbe and pick up the cycle path there. It turned out a pretty good option as it was well signed and in the main a great sealed surface. 

We left the hotel about 8:15am and quickly found the right pathway. Our first stop was for a cuppa in a park at Schönhausen (good German name). Back into the headwind we ventured, determined not to let it get to us. We thought that Havelberg might be worth a look so we veered away from the route and across a bridge into town. Nothing to see there so we moved right along. 

Our next stop was at Sandau where an interesting looking church grabbed Greg’s attention. We had a fruit break and a visit inside the St Laurentius/St Nikolaus Church of Sandau.  A young lady was tending a jam and crafts stall in the foyer and because we couldn’t carry any excess stuff, we just made a donation. 

Wendy called for a break from the ever increasing wind about 20km from our hotel and conveniently we found a nice enclosed shelter overlooking the Elbe where we consumed the last of our rations. When the hit was built, they obviously knew the prevalent winds as there were no windows on the northerly aspect, and a concealed entry.

From then on it was head down for Wittenberge. Upon attempting to check in Wendy was told, not very politely that 16:00 was the earliest that it could be done. So we cooled our heals downtown with a cool drink and a bite to eat. Upon checking her phone again Wendy found that she had asked for and received approval for a 15:00 check in. After we did some dinner shopping we went back and got the codes for our apartment, thinking that we won that one! Maybe not, because when we went to use the code to unlock the apartment it wouldn’t let us in. So we waited until 16:00, the. 16:01and bingo we were in. So it would have been less of a hassle just to wait until the approved check in time; ha ha! 

After the usual settling in routine and dinner, Greg went out for a ride instead of a walk so he could cover more distance in the same time. He went without battery as it is pretty flat around here.

Ablutions, and bed.

The thermometer outside the bike a garage this morning, it was a bit of a shock to the system

Some of the paths we rode today

Path over a lock bridge

Path signage

Fruit break beside the St Laurentius / St Nikolaus Church at Sandau

Inside the church

View from the bridge into Havelberg

Mornos stop

Lunch stop

Sheep being loaded into a truck; took up most of the cycle path, but it provided entertainment for about 10 cyclists as a couple of sheep went AWOL through the makeshift fences. Some of the lambs were still very new, white and fluffy 

Our hotel and room - Hotel Elbe-Herz Appartement

Apartment #206

The back of the building 

Ride route and stats

Wittenberge ‘Port’

Evangelical Church, Wittenberge

6pm bells

Wittenberge Town Hall

This ordinary looking house was built well before Captain Cook was born, c16th century

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