Half Term at last!! Breaking up on Friday 18 Oct felt like it was Christmas! There was a crisp freshness in the air, as well as just feeling utterly exhausted!! It was a long 7 weeks since summer! Over worked & under paid as they say.. But cant complain, been fun!

After my last day out to Poland cycling, I couldn't wait to organise another advernture! Hopes of travelling to Dresden & through to Czech Republic were dashed by the cost of train fare! Expensive for a couple of days... So planning began for Poland x2!

We wanted something a little more exciting than the last & made plans to follow the European R1 bike track! An amazing route! Although we only covered a tiny part of it, Im already dreaming of taking on some more! The R1 takes you from Calais to St Petersburg!

A train to Strausberg, then the R1 to Kostrzyn Poland!

A party of 4 making our way through Eastern Germany to the border town of Kostrzyn! We passed through many small towns and villages on the way, some very isolated! It makes you wonder what these people do here, out in the middle of nowhere! The small town of Buckow was a favourite. A very scenic town on the lake surrounded by national park! Also the first point at which we got slightly lost!

Neuhardenberg, a place to remember. Not for the town itself, as it was very dull! One long street with nothing much to see at all, but it provided us with the cheapest & largest lunch! A great little find! Schnitzel mit Pommes It was massive! So tasty too. We would all go back just for that! After a good feast we set off once again, my bum becoming increasingly uncomfortable! Eek!

We travelled up to Letschin, where we tried to find the river to follow into Kostrzyn, we never found the river until crossing th ebridge into Poland! The ride was a great one, we clocked up some speed as well as the km!! Day One saw us cycle 96.5 km! Not quite the 100, we were tempted to cycle round the hotel carpark a few times to clock the last 4 km!

Nothing to report in Kostrzyn, a very small border towm filled with supermarkets! Many people will cross the border for fuel, cigarettes & Vodka on the cheap! We did just the same, filling Steve's bags with Vodka before heading back ;)

Incase we hadn't eaten enough at lunch we filled our faces with more food! Only right to try the local cuisine! Dinner washed down with lots of Polish beer! Tiskie, Lech, Zywiec... We obviously had to try them all!!

Day Two; Heavy headed we went for our buffet breakfast! Before heading back on the bikes across the border blind! We had decided to travel back a different route, one which we hadnt any maps for! A great adventure!!

Down the river to Reitwein, then somewhere beginning with 'H'.. I believe it was Heinersdorf.. The weather was unbelievable! Who'd have thought you'd be out cycling in late October in T-shirt & shorts!?!? Bright sunshine, clear blue skies! Cycling through the countryside, forests, by lakes and rivers, through tny sleepy towns and villages! Just incredible!

Lunch at Tifany's...

Then back on the unknown tracks of East Germany!

The cobbled farm roads were now to be avoided! They nearly killed Suzie before lunch! We did encourage her ot to push her bike to the nearest bus stop! Although finding one wouldve been next to impossible!

Onward to Erkner, the final stop before S-bahning back to Berlin.

We passed through the small East German town where the old DDR trained their Olympic athletes... & gave them all drugs!! There was a huge sports complex hidden well in the forest near Kagel. A perfect little secret!

An amazing couple of days and an inspired cyclist thinking ahead to other holidays and potential tours!