NO NEED TO PUSH WINDMILLS HERE
THE COUNTRYSIDE BECONS
I make my way out of Hamburg. The tree lined path is straight through agriculture land: field corn, freshly plowed fields, lots of greenhouses and cut flower production. There are modern windmills off in the distance and an old one up close. I see horses, geese, ducks and a hawk. I stop for plum cake and coffee midday in Burghorst and then continue past fields of wildflowers.
FELLOW TRAVELER
I notice a woman stopped ahead who has panniers. I pull up next to her and ask where she is going: Hamburg and where is she from: Munich. She has biked the whole way! She is a biologist at the university in Munich and is visiting her family in Hamburg. They have 19 hectares of farm land with a building over 100 years old in Kolmar and are deciding what do with it. I tell her about Paradise Farms. We exchange email addresses and she tells me about some special places ahead on the trail. I relax into the ride stopping to take pictures.
DECISIONS DECISIONS
I see a stork nest but no storks as they have already flown south. The marking on the tree reminds me I’m on an official bike route. One stopping place is a retail dairy shop. It’s a beautiful day overlooking the Elbe River. My only problem now is that I need to restock my food and am not passing any grocery stores. I am battling with stopping early or forging ahead. There is a camping place in the next town of Hornstort or 30 kilometers to the next campground. So I stop early at 4:30. I don't want to push that hard as after all, I am on vacation!
MY PRIVATE CAMPING SPOT
I get to the campground where there is a sign that it is only open for long term RV rentals. I ask someone where the proprietor is and they direct me to the opposite side of the dike at the third house. I knock on the door and ask if I could pitch my tent for the night. He says the campground is leased by a private group. We talk some more and he allows me to camp in a yard where people park their camping trailers. He gives me the key for the outdoor bathroom and hot shower all for 7 euro and then directs me to a grocery store down the street. I stock up for the next 3 days. I’m so thankful to have this sense of freedom and ease.
It feels like each day is unfolding beautifully…