We left the Youth Hostel after breakfast and our BBF was not in the best of moods, as the route took us back for part of the way we had come. He said he would not have bothered coming to Lauenburg had he know that! However, the other reason we came here was because it had a Railway Station and he hoped to find a DB Information centre there that could advise about us getting home at the end of the trip. Well they didn’t have one there, only machines to sell tickets!
The day started grey and cold and got colder as went. By the time we had retraced out steps to the Border Crossing at Boizenburg it was so cold our BBF put on his waterproof jacket and gloves.
Once past Boizenburg we found ourselves on very new long distance cycle track, which would have made the going easier, were it not for the strong cold wind against us and then later the rain. So once again we Bears were without sight of where we were, but at least we were dry and warm, which our BBF was not. Strangely his bad mood evaporated nad he had the attitude of you can’t crack me I’m a Rubber Duck! His feet and ankles were cold and his right Achilles Tendon was complying somewhat. He said it was good that it was cold as otherwise the infection in the tendon would get worse and he would be living on Ibuprofen!
At a time when our human was looking for a place to a stop and rest out of the wind, we came to an interesting little Cafe/Shop. We stopped and our BBF went in and found a children’s dream of a shop. Handmade sweets of every kind and description. The proprietress was a young kindly woman who, though she didn’t have sound made our human a fantastic Cappuccino. He was also able to use the toilet facilities. He bought some burnt sugar almonds and then we set off again. It rained again and the wind which was like a “whetted knife”, just wouldn’t give up.
We stopped again and our BBF used a bus top to get out of the wind and rain to rest. We passed an old NVA Barracks but were not sure to what use it had now been put, save to say that it had been renovated.
The rain stopped and for a moment or too we thought the sun might come out to warm us. But it didn’t!
We then came to a place where we learned that in 1945 there were exchanges of territory which involved the villages making a decision to go or stay. Once made there was no going back. The majority left as they were wary of the Russians.
A little further on we came to another memorial of a Gaststätte that had been torn down as it was the forbidden Zone.
Then there was the new bridge that had been built after the reunification to make access easier for all. The memorial there should a map of the territorial changes and of the border fortifications.
Eventually we came into Ratzeburg and our BBF fancied staying in a hotel, but couldn’t find one, but did come to the DJH of German Youth Hostel. This is a fine modern building and he was given a nice room with en-suite shower in the staff area of the building, away from the many small children that are here.
This is the view from our room.
So we are now by Point 57 on the map and have cycled 72,6kms today.
P.S. Our BBF’s photos have not all been successfully uploaded into the Cloud, so we are no able to pos all of them. We will amend this Blog when we can.
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