We set off through Berlin on cycle paths that were shockingly orderly and uncongested, but still slow stop start riding through all the traffic lights. Once out of the city we pedalled through forests and around lakes on beautiful cycle paths, with regular stretches of cobbles just to give the whole body a thorough workout.
Joanne and I soon got back into the very happy routine of riding together having a good natter whilst ignoring the protests from my legs pushed into keeping up.
I was rather hungry by the time we got to the coffee stop at 58km but the German cake was suitably yummy and filling.
The rental bike is titanium and as comfortable as a road bike can be (bum wouldn’t necessarily agree).
Lunch was a yummy picnic overlooking Schulzensee.
This now peaceful, if slightly spooky forest at Markisch Buchholz was the location of a battle in 1945 in which the German Ninth Army was destroyed as a fighting force by the Red Army. The casualties on both sides were extremely high but amazingly, 25,000 German soldiers and several thousand civilians succeeded in getting through three lines of Soviet troops.
On the way into Lubben, several riders were stopped by the police for failing to stop properly at a junction. The ones who didn’t manage to politely talk themselves out of it, had to pay a €10 fine. I’m guessing they will now be carefully stopping at junctions.
The pretty balcony of my hotel bedroom is now prettily decorated with washed bike kit and my legs are being treated to a rest on a comfy sofa before being refuelled at dinner and a good snooze.
And today’s geeky cycling stats were..
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