From Hamelin to Minden: It isnt as hot today

August 15, 2015

It seemed cooler this morning as we rumbled down the cobbles of the pedestrian streets of Hamelin. There were only the bronze rats on the street and the man from the eise cafe putting out his tables and chairs, it was only 7.30 so no doubt in another hour or so the whole business of selling the Pied Piper legend to the tourists would start again. Once we had cleared the very pleasant suburbs we were once more out into wheat, sugar beet and corn country. When we started the trip most of the wheat had been harvested but now it is all standing golden and expectant. At one stage a small deer ran across in front of Ken's bike, it always surprises me both how often we see deer here and how small they are.

We were hopeful that today unlike yesterday we would find a coffee spot and had our hopes pinned to Rinteln. It was just on 10 when crossed the bridge over the Weser and were in the pedestrian main street of Rinteln. The streets like those of Hamelin seemed to be packed but there was one difference, I think that they all seemed to be locals meeting in local cafes and bars to have a coffee and some Saturday morning sociability, quite a lot of bikes and many zimmer frames but our bikes were the only touring ones. A coffee and we were off rejuvenated. Coming out of town we saw the first of what to us always seems like a summer phenomena to us in Germany - a circus. It was quite a small one and there appeared to be no interesting animals.

It was still cool when we stopped for lunch overlooking one of the many camping grounds. This seems to be a very popular pastime along the Weser - most of the motor homes have bikes attached and many of the cyclists you see do I think come from the camping. There are also facilities all along the river offering canoeing. Not very long before Minden we came to a small airfield where gliders were being catapulted into the air. With little effort we found the Tourist Information and have a beautiful hotel room to trash.

The good news is the ABs beat the Aussies - thanks for that news Jan

Is this the tree they picked Snow Whites apple from?

They used to haul boats up the Wesser like this

This is the quality of the Cycling infrastructure

Corn"as high as an elephants eye" beautified by sun flowers

Today's ride: 70 km (43 miles)
Total: 494 km (307 miles)

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