July 30 - Almost to Berlin

Thursday - Zehdenick to Hennigsdorf
Bokart asked if Donna wanted to pay for our stay. She jokingly said "No". He said he would just have to come to America then and find us.  "Yes, you should!" "You will have to buy my plane ticket" "OK then, we'll pay now" :)

The bike locker was full last night. The Berlin to Copenhagen Bike Route has been a boon to small establishments like this one.

One question we had was the difference between a hotel and a pension. Pension are mostly family-owned and only serve meals to their guests.

On the way out of town.

It was VERY windy from the west so we were happy for the trees that moderated its effect.

Liebenwalde whimsy

We ended up at the LIDL store in Liebenwalde at the same time as Ivo and Katie. We said our last farewells and followed them out of town. About 10 minutes later their path home took them south with one last wave and our route turned west.

A dress right dress forest......pretty easy to manage.

Out with Grandma playing on the hay.

This bridge was first built in 1910, destroyed in 1945, rebuilt in 2010. It is a really good example of the kind of investment we've been observing first hand, that Germany has made in the former East Germany over the last 20 years.

Another shelter showed up just in time for our lunch stop!

Watched the boat traffic while we ate.

This must be his after-lunch nap.

Oranienburg has the most beautiful utility buildings.

Then it was back in the woods again. Waldweg means Forest Road. This is a pretty typical one.

Outside the train station in Birkenwerder.

Always a good place to find a bathroom and tourist information.

After Birkenwerder the route went through the City of Berlin's watershed/waterworks. Their utility buildings were entertaining.

The hotel bike garage.

Working on pictures for the blog, checking weather, and maps. It was only 66F here today but it was 105F in Sweet Home and the heat is heading east.