The storm cleared the humidity for the night and with the sun again warming the air at 6am, it promises to be a hot day.
After the storm the night was beautifully silent until aggressive barking started about 2am. Previously I had put this sound down to Roe deer, as foxes are far less common and make a different sound. However cornfields are less favoured by deer than wood and grass land. Chatting with Anne this morning I mentioned it. She did a search and as a result we have learnt something. Germany has a racoon problem, a ‘one million’ problem. Although they cull 60,000 a year, they are still a growing problem and a menace. First introduced from America before WW2 they were farmed for their pelts. During the war a stray bomb landed on one of these farms allowing around 24 to escape. Now, Germans love their hunting, hence why most fields are covered by line of sight with raised timber stands where the rifle men shoot from. For variety of prey, more racoons were released. Similar story to the seven rabbits released in Australia, originally again to provide sport shooting. That also went a little off track. So maybe it has been racoons barking on every occasion I’ve heard the sound. I also now know traps baited with chocolate are used, care needs to be taken when walking through undergrowth. Racoons carry disease and are not shy. They have been know to get on a train. Presumably by accident, or have they taken to commuting.
Today’s sightseeing involved visiting some beautiful towns via country roads, all, bar one having cycle ways.
The day started with a ride through woods on a dirt track and finished sitting on the bank of the river Elbe watching Container ships and two emergency services speed boats in action.
Arriving in the town Buchholz at 7:30 am nothing was open except for one coffee shop- fortunately! By 8:30 there were many cafe’s open and hundreds of people around. Wenzendorf was nice and the larger town of Buxtehude was special, however the prize, should one be needed, must go to Stade.
From Stade it is only about 50km into Hamburg. I was tempted to use a proper camp site this evening anticipating back to back industry along the Elbe south bank. What a lovely surprise having walked up a flight of steps that took you over the flood embankment, there was the river, maybe half a mile across and immediately I saw a Container ship that was going into Hamburg using the northern channel behind an island and not ten minutes ago two emergency services speed boats skimmed the water going flat out on blue lights. The whole bank is still rural. So peaceful, apart from a drone that is spying on a few of us beneath. It’s currently over the water- we can but hope the batteries aren’t the Rabbit ones.
Tomorrow I’ll ride into the German chancellor’s home city. I would like to use the historic tunnel that goes under the river, if I can find it.
So some sights from today:-
This lovely water mill and wheel went without mention. There are so many eye catching structures.
Buxtenhude historic centre.
Historic centre of Stade.
The historic centre of Stade, yes I was impressed.
Container ships heading up stream to Hamburg. The second one is behind the island and pylon.
Wild camp beside the Elbe. Last for a while. An apartment awaits in Hamburg. Picking Anne up from the airport and no she isn’t going to do a seven km. ‘Croggy’.
Tim Ralph – Mountaineer and Speaker 