Weserradweg: From Hannoversch Münden to Nienburg
We are using the long weekend over October 3rd to follow the Weser cycle path from Hannoversch Münden to Nienburg. In four days we cycle 270 kilometres. The weather conditions are fine. Even though rain is forecasted we have more sunshine. However the stages are pretty long and my legs are arching after a while and that’s not the only part of my body:-) Still we come across beautiful villages, idyllic landscapes, sightseeing and good food – that’s all worth the effort.
Early getting up to Hannoversch Münden
The morning does not start as expected. We use the “Niedersachsen Ticket” from Braunschweig to Hannoversch Münden. On the train we are in for a surprise. We did not know that the ticket is only valid from 9 o’clock on. Too bad that means we ride illegally. The ticket inspector however turns a blind eye and sells a normal ticket to us inspite of the fine of 60 Euro per person. That was close! Finally arriving at Hannoversch Münden we need some coffee to warm up. The half-timbered houses of the city centre are very nice. Slowly but surely the sun comes out and warms up our faces. The coffee does the rest.
Where Werra and Fulda are kissing
We take the beautiful wooden bridge of the river Werra and pay a visit to the “Weserstein”. At this place, where Werra and Fulda kiss each other, we set our official starting point for the cycle tour. We start our first stage. Our destination is the country guest house Hoffmeister at Hehlen. After 90 kilometres on the bike and a bud that really hurts we arrive at our accommodation. It goes without saying that we are hungry like wolves. We move into our functional room and just take a quick shower to enter the dinning area afterwards. The room is already quite full and people are enjoying their meal. We order as quickly as possible and can’t wait to be feeded. The kitchen is plain cooking but just right for us.
Next morning a hyetal region passes our region. That’s why we are taking our time at breakfast until the rain is over. Around eleven o’clock we say goodbye to Hehlen and go back on our bikes. Through the drizzle we ride to Hameln. Time after time the sky clears up and the sun comes out.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
We take a break at Hameln. Unfortunately the city centre is a touristic hightlight. It is hardly possilbe to pass throught with the bike. Meanwhile the sun’s radiation intensity heat up the city and let the buildings shine. We enjoy the atmosphere for a while but it is simply to crowded. We move on and head on for the Stiftskirche at Fischbeck. The construction is a real discovery. Both the inside of the church as well as the wonderful cross vein take us by surprise. Unfortunately a thunder storm is approaching us. We head into the direction of Rinteln for another stopp. But the weather puts a spoke in our wheel. On the way we take shelter under a bus stop. It is suddenly raining cats and dogs and the chestnuts are falling down over our heads and crack on the ceiling of the bus shelter. After half an hour the show is over. However we lost too much time already and cannot catch up with it. Arriving at Rinteln we have to learn that we stil have to go for 30 kilometres to reach our today’s desination: Bad Oeyenhausen. I am almost out of my mind. I am somewhat wobbly on the feet and it’s getting dark too.
A beer for salutatory
It’s no use we have to go on. Finally we booked the last double room in Bad Oeyenhausen this morning. But it get’s worse. We are almost on the home stretch when Holger has a puncture on this bike. That’s the last thing we need! Tired and slightly annoyed we arrive at Bad Oeyenhausen. I just want one thing: a shower and have some peace. It is almost 8 o’clock pm when the nice hotel owner welcomes us with two beers in his hands. A really nice gesture, however when he sees my tired face he already guesses that I only want to go to my room.
I feel much better after the shower. The hotel owner recommends the Ristorance Paradiso to us. Unfortunately it is located around our hotel. The place is packed but there is some space left for us. I order the sea bass and a glass of wine. The meal is wonderful and saves my day. Tired to death but satisfied we fell into bed. Next morning we enjoy a wonderful and very tasty breakfast at the Stickdorn. Starched like this we take a look a the spa gardens of Bad Oeyenhausen before we head on towards Petershagen.
Close to Porta Westfalica we pass by the epic Kaiser-Wilhelm monument that is located high above the Weser. We move on to Minden. We cycle to the Schiffsmühle and the namesake restaurant opposite the ship. Once again we are lucky. Just a couple of minutes after our arrival a heavy rain shower comes down. After that the sun comes out again and heats up the atmosphere again. We make use of the dry period in order to visit the reconstruction of the grain grinding ship mill. When we cycle to the city centre, another shower comes down. We take again shelter. Next to the alternating weather conditions we have to fight with flat tires again.
Shortly after Petershagen we arrive at our “hotel” holiday farm Meyer. Once again we had a hard time to find accommodation. The country guest house has a double room. However they do not serve dinner and there is not restaurant close by this time. We could only order something or drive back to Petershagen. But we do not feel like it. Finally we live on sandwiches and watch Tatort on TV. The guest house is rather for families and quite uninteresting for vegetarians.
Through Russia to the barn quarter
Next mornig we start our last stage. Before we go back to cycling we take a visit the Industriemuseum Glashütte Gernsheim. With a lot of new impressions and information we continue. But suddenly we stop short. A sign at the roadside tells us we are in Russia. How could we have got lost this way? After this little detour we arrive at the barn quarter at Schlüsselburg. 26 barns do still exist.
The mill square at Parsau
Before we go back to the train station we pass by the mill square at Parsau. We take a look at the Bockwind mill and cycle on to Stolzenau to the “table set yourself.” The cycle path is getting kind of boring by now that’s why we decide to take the train back to Nienburg and from there back home.
