View of the Weser, just before Bad Karlshafen
Inspired by Netflix and YouTube, we decided without further ado to go on holiday by bike. Like so many others, we bought new bikes during the very strange pandemic period. We added a few panniers, a mobile phone holder and comfortable cycling shorts and off we went on a wild ride.
As we had no experience whatsoever, we just set off and predicted at lunchtime where we would arrive in the late afternoon and booked hotel rooms there..
"Wo Fulda und Werra sich küssen ..."
We started early in the morning with a train journey from Marburg to Kassel, from there to the Fulda and on to Hann. Münden. After the obligatory visit to the Weser stone and a short lunch break, we continued straight away, as this is where the Weser cycle path begins, which took us to Beverungen just after Bad Karlshafen on the first day.
The second stage then led directly to Hameln. Even the blazing summer sun couldn't stop us, but the one or other e-bike rider, who is only supported by his motor up to 25 km/h, could. We travelled through the beautiful landscape of the Weserbergland. Almost always directly along the Weser, through Höxter, Holzminden and Bodenwerder.
The third stage marked the end of the most beautiful section of the entire tour for us, as the landscape changes noticeably after Porta Westfalica. But once again we were able to enjoy the hilly landscape to the right and left of the Weser and get to know Hessisch Oldendorf and Rinteln.
Fürstenberg Castle in the district of Holzminden, home of the porcelain manufactory founded in 1747.
Off to the North German Plain
There's no question that the Weser cycle path remains beautiful even after Minden and the and the villages to the right and left of the route are super beautiful. However, the landscape becomes a little more monotonous and, above all, flatter. We cycled in 2 stages via Petershagen, Nienburg, Hoya and Verden an der Aller to Bremen.
Here we had a great idea and decided to take a rest day to give our untrained legs a rest. This grandiose idea was soon cancelled, however, as Bremen showed itself from its best side and we went on an extensive tour of the city and took part in the night watchman's tour.
The town hall and St Peter's Cathedral in Bremen. Accompanied by a devilishly good devil's violinist.
But the North Sea was the destination
So the next day we travelled on to Bremerhaven. This is where the Weser flows into the North Sea. The harbour there is very beautiful, but that's about it in terms of architectural splendour. Anyway, North Sea reached, on to Cuxhaven ... you think! The morning check on Booking.com revealed only one available accommodation. A 4-bed room in a hostel for 400 euros. Hmmm ... The ferry from there across the Elbe had simply been sold to Norway during the Corona period, so there was nowhere to go. Where to now?
A brief consultation at the breakfast table led to a change of plan. With the 9-euro ticket back to Porta Westfalica. Another good decision. Just to see the beautiful Weser Uplands from the other side and to take advantage of the fact that the Weser cycle path runs almost continuously on both sides. So we cycled back to Kassel.
Sunset at the mouth of the Weser into the North Sea near Bremerhaven.
And where is the best place to be?
At home! And believe it or not, the last 2.5 km from the station to the front door completed the 700 km total distance to the exact metre. We simply rode to the North Sea on our 600 euro trekking bikes. We were so proud and we had found our new hobby together.
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