I am actually writing this on August 29th while waiting for our flight from Frankfurt to SFO. I'm sure I've lost some of the details of the day but will document what I can. The day was memorable for the length of the ride that day - 97km - along with some hills. Nothing serious but nevertheless ups and downs. It's been some time since I've done a ride of this length let alone another 96 km ride on the agenda for tomorrow. I am glad to have the e-bike. Kathy is feeling back to normal so fine with my having it. I was so tired that evening that I didn't have the energy to write anything. We get in at 5:50 and have to be ready for a tour of the castle where we are staying the night at 5:30 followed by dinner.
We leave Lüneburg right at 9:00. Everyone is all business this morning. I'm really sorry not to have time to explore this lovely town. We are in a very nice hotel and our room is on the river. I do take some pictures of the view from there. The ride today rejoins the Elbe River and we ride along a natural area of the Lower Saxony Elbatalaue. We will cross from West Germany into East Germany, the former DDR (German Democratic Republic in English). Jessica will mark the spot for us. It is just across a bridge that we ride over. We will be in East Germany for the rest of the trip.
Our leaders prepare a delicious picnic for us at the top of one of the hills we ride today. There is a great view of the area. Some climb a big tower, a lookout, and as I am walking beside it, something drops inches from my head! It is Billy's wooden monkey that he was posing on the railing for pictures to his grandchildren. A few branches come down, too. Whew! No harm done. We ride in with Philipp who is the sweep for the day. He tells us about life in East Germany as we ride along. We stop for ice cream 10 km out. We all need a break.
We see an almost immediate difference in the towns and buildings in East Germany. The buildings are drab and dilapidated though some have been restored. This part of East Germany did not benefit from reunification. People lost their jobs and were not prepared in any way to adapt to a democracy. Some, even today, would like to return to the old structured way.
Tonight we stay in the Castle of Lenzen. The castle was donated by its owner to BUND, the biggest environmental organization in Germany. It is now owned and operated by BUND as a hotel and conference center. It is adjacent to the nature preserve that used to be no man's land between East and West Germany. The family who owned the castle left after Germany was split. By the time the country was reunified, it was run down and its heir aging. She gave it to BUND. As they were developing it, they discovered ruins of an ancient Slavic community All food is local, organic and "bio." Bio is a term seen frequently in Germany. A woman from BUND gives us a tour of the castle and tells us about the history of it. I am interested and she is passionate about the place, but it's a little too long and detailed after our long day. Climbing three more flights of stairs to see all the levels was a bit much too!
The leaders have arranged for champagne to toast Dave's and my 51st anniversary. The hotel won't let them bring the champagne into the kitchen because it isn't organic! It is a lovely place. Weather gray and cool. We were going to eat outside but it is too cool.
Bridge between East and West Germany
Castle of Lenzen
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