How to spend German Reunification Day...??

Cycle to Poland!

Day off meant a free day to explore! The 4 of us met at Berlin Hauptbahnhof early Thursday morning, boarded the train to Eberswalde ready for a days cycle (my bum wasn't looking forward to becoming part of the bike.. But it'd get used to it!)

So from Eberswalde, I'd love to say I knew which way or where we went.. But that'd be a lie! I was just enjoying the freedom of the road! Getting out of Charlottenburg! Away from Berlin, it was awesome! Out in the country, the far East Germany! Things did seem like a whole other world out of the city! I have to admit I'm definately one for the country! Although Northern Germany doesn't have many hills, it's not the most scenic... It was most probably a good thing there were no hills! Not sure I couldve managed the 90/100km if there was!?!

The wind was pretty chilly... Understatement!

The journey from Eberswalde to the border was a very, dare I say it, easy ride. The flat german Countryside with small towns and villages cropping up inbetween made for a fantastic ride. Crossing the border on a bike felt great! Sounds daft I know, but, I did get a little giddy at the crossing! It was the first bike ride Ive ever been on where Ive packed my passport! (Didnt actually need it, but was great to have it packed!)

A stop for lunch in Cedynia, the classic 'Schnitzel' mit Pommes! I did my best to turn down a beer with the thought of how good the one on the train home would taste! Little did I know then that we wouldn't be having one until Berlin!!! Disaster!

Dominic, our Head of Pastoral, riding a "town bike" which must be a minimum 20yrs old! Also our tour guide!!! Had our next stop as Chonja, a place he'd been wanting to go to for a while. & what a journey to get there! It was the longest 20k I have ever done! Slight incline into a serious head wind! It became quite a slog, the enjoyment levels had reduced dramatically since the border and lunch! But, at least it wasn't raining!!!

From Chonja we headed...??? Well I'd say North! We were heading for the border near Schwedt. Some excitement caused by an Ostrich distracted us for a few minutes before getting back on the bikes and heading into the forest, a bit of offroading! Weeeeeeee!

It was a great day, tiring day.. But well worth it! For the short time I was in Poland I could really see and feel what a fascinating country Poland is. it is certainly somewhere I will look to head back to.