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For the last few weeks before I returned to the US, I worked in Copenhagen (København). I flew there every Monday morning, and home to München every Friday afternoon.

A bicycle tour from København to München

Dave Hood
2004-02-19 20:21:47

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I understand why. I messed around for over an hour! before I finally saw another cyclist, followed him to a completely invisible bike tunnel under the tracks, came out in Wilhelmsburg and started the exit from metropolitan Hamburg.

It’s easy to get in: just follow the Centrum signs. Almost impossible to get out! Even here, I tracked and backtracked, checked the map and the terrain, navigated by the sun and by the compass, guessed, finally made it to Harburg, then to Tötensen; and by now I was at least following a real road (75 again) that went somewhere – Bremen. Once I get away from the conurbation, I need to do a map check, see whether this is a completely wrong direction. But the first priority is to get the hell out of here.

Am I so harassed that I’m not even taking time to enjoy the good parts? Yes!! Argh!

Well, to be more precise… if the little boy in me was so frustrated he was ready to cry, the adult was watching, taking in the sights, enjoying. This is ok – green, and autumn, and sunlight, hazy but real.

Great to get back into the countryside. This is why bicycle tourists avoid large metropolitan areas. Doubtless Hamburg is a fine city, but it is not to be explored in an hour by bike.

Highway 75 goes through fairly sparsely settled country, as does route 3, where I turned off. Good bike path, away from the road, and I don’t even object to it – there’s lots of traffic over there. My wheels snap, crackle and pop as I ride through the debris on the path, especially the oakorns.

I have heard of the Lüneberg Heath since I was a kid, though nothing more than just the name. Here it is. From what I saw, just a flat plain. Not sure what makes it different or special. We’ll see more of it tomorrow.

The sun was out intermittently. I figured I’d have a slightly later dusk tonight. Not many km on the computer – ...