Dum Spiro Spero
A bit of a wet night meant a cool and very damp breaking of camp. Seeing as we (Derek!) lost the wash house keys we packed up and snuck out incognito so were on the road by 07.30.
Every morning we spend the first hour of cycling chanting the mantra 'remember we can go slow and stop when we want and enjoy ourselves'. This seems to appease Derek greatly and this morning, after 13miles, as we were trying to find our way back on to the route we magically passed a stehcafe. We stopped ate breakfast and enjoyed ourselves.
Eventually, as the 20 mile mark was passed our mountain stage began. We steadily climbed with minimal groaning until we reached the magnificent spectacle of the Externstein. These huge sandstone slabs seem to rise out of nowhere. We stopped, looked, climbed and did some more enjoying.
Although the weather was about 15 degrees cooler and we were occasionally doused with rain, we had the wind behind which made for a most enjoyable route. A double lunch break, (two sandwiches and two drinks), was taken in the pretty little town of Nieheim. There followed a fifteen mile section of marvelous riding which culminated in a 7 mile descent into Hoxter on the River Weser. Although both Derek and I had cycled the Weser Radweg two years ago neither of us had any recollection of visiting this beautiful fachwerk town.
Derek's hourly reminder that he was a grandad twice over resulted in us visiting
Abtei Corvey - an ancient monastery dating from 862- and downing more local pils in yet another celebration.
As we cycled along the Weser towards Holzminden we not only suffered a torrential downpour but also our daily 'spiraling out of control' event. This is where after taking in alcoholic sustenance we lose our route and add 4 miles to our daily mileage. Even this could not dampen the belief that this had been our most enjoyable day's cycling EVER.
We set up our tents on the bank of the river and after another celebratory dunkel beer walked into town for a pizza.
On the bridge over to town we both experience a 'Holzminden moment'. There on the riverside was the huge warehouse where two years ago Derek had thrown a paddy because I wouldn't stop for lunch. How things have changed since then. I am a new man and Derek talks to me most of the time.
Miles cycled - 63
Helen needs to produce a child every time you have a trip. You've never been so chilled.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want to be the one to tell her about that!
DeleteI wouldn't want to be the one to tell her about that!
DeleteJust looked up the Externsteine on internet. Aren't they fantastic?
ReplyDelete