Germany - Steinfeld

We got into Lubeck around 1600 and then looked around a bit while we waited for our connecting train to Reinfeld where Christiane picked up. It was so nice to meet Janna’s family in person, Christian, Christiane, Tim, Wilma (dog) Musik (cat), we had of course talked to them several times on skype, but this was much better.

 The next day was Christiane’s day off, so after doing a few jobs we headed into Hamburg.  We went to the Hamburg Port which was truly amazing; Murray counted 55 container cranes without even trying. It is the world’s third largest port after London and New York. After a look over an old sailing boat called Rickmar Rickmars we got on a boat harbour cruise, which wound its way in and out of some of the port docks, unfortunately the commentary was all in German but Christiane filled us in a bit.  After leaving the boat we decided we would go through the 100 year old Elbe tunnel to the other side of the harbour.  This was really cool, 450m tunnel, single lane with footpath either side. I thought it would have been really cool if it had a glass roof so you could see the boats over the top – huge big propellers turning up the water – hhmm maybe not. 

Ship Ahoy captain - backwards???

In the engine room

Cranes everywhere

Hamburg waterfront

Yep its them two again!

Looking back over to Hamburg

The old tunnel

 Next day we had the morning to ourselves so we headed in Lubeck to do a spot of shopping a new hat for me as I had left the last one in Poland and a new toilet bag for Murray.  Then around 4pm when we were all ready we headed off for a two hour car journey to Pevestorf – south west of Lubeck.  Murray and I took Christian’s car and they went in Christianes’.  Murray quite enjoyed being behind the wheel, even though it took a lot of concentration and a couple of close shaves, very close shaves! -  later we arrived at their lovely holiday spot.  We had to go across the River Elbe on the small car ferry and then drive about 5 minutes further to the cabin.  It was lovely, set in big tall trees with plenty of shade with a nice garden.  We walked to the local restaurant and enjoyed a nice meal before wandering back for a few more beers and a bonfire at the house.  On the way back we saw some fruit bats. Next morning after a delicious breakfast we headed to the marina to get their boat.  I just caught a glimpse of a squirrel – darn didn’t have the camera and really it was too quick anyway. The local boat club had something going on, and there were people and boats everywhere.  The river itself was quite wide, very peaceful, just a few birds and cows on the beach and the occasional boat passing us. We headed up the Elbe to another little village where we stopped for a walk to the lookout and a nice meal at a restaurant.   It was a really nice day out.  When we got back, we cut some firewood, Christian and Murray saw a black snake and Murray cut his foot so was off duty for the rest of the evening,  and then enjoyed another delicious bbq meal and a bonfire with some ale and all was good.  The next day we just relaxed before heading to the river (beach) and relaxed some more before driving back to Steinfeld.  It was an awesome weekend in the sun, which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Wilma looking for a treat, that Murray has in his pocket

Beautiful sight - almost ready to harvest

Following our leaders

The river Elbe

Campfire

The boat

The car ferry

Two mermaids on the fore deck

Great discussion by Christian and Murray

Outside the museum

A cooling dip for Murray

Firewood time

Christiane's cottage

After having such a relaxing weekend we thought maybe we should do something active so the plan was for us to go on a bike tour – so Christiane dropped us off at Krumesse where we joined the Elbe canal.  We biked along the canal for 24kms to a village called Mollin, then left the canal track and explored the village.  First stop was a bike shop to replace the crank arm as it kept needing tightening. It was a pretty village, quite busy and famous for Eulenspeigal, who was a legendary clown.  We had left the bikes at the village square so after walking around, eating lunch we headed back to grab the bikes and went on another bike trail around a smaller lake, and saw another black snake before heading back to our meeting point where we were getting picked up.  Another awesome day, it had threatened to rain, with thunder and flashes of lightening but nothing had happened so we were lucky.

One of the many weirs.

bike track...

a little further along...

neat little house by Mollin 

Three clowns !

At Mollin

Another nearby lake

 On Tuesday morning we headed to Reinfeld 10 kms bike ride to pick up some supplies for our kiwi dinner that night.  We found a massive piece of pork to roast for 5.90 euros !  Brought some vege to go with it and some apples for an apple crumble and we were all set.  Our back packs were full and we again headed off.  After a bit of a climb out of the village we turned off to go back via the forest track.  Almost through the forest, my back tyre blew out!  Not a major, but a real pain.  Murray carried on and dropped his bags at home then came back to get mine and I pushed the bike home, it was only about 2 kms, but it was really hot.  Anyway, Murray then had to go back into Reinfeld to get a tyre as we needed the bikes for the next day and I cooked the dinner. Yummy!  Watched an English movie on telly together.The next day we caught up on some laundry and stuff and took Wilma for a big walk.  The weather was still a bit unstable but it was still warm.  I think some nearby villages got wet but not us.  When Christiane came home from work we jumped on the bikes again and headed off to Lake Pogonese.  I guess about 10kms away.  Christiane enjoyed a swim, (too cold for us) I saw another squirrel, Murray saw some interesting machinery and that was pretty much it.

A big bike ride was planned for Thursday.  We would bike to Reinfeld, Train to Lubeck, change trains and go to Travemunde and do the coastal ride.  Good plan.  It went a bit pear shaped for me as we were changing trains I bumped my bad shoulder and was in excruciating pain.  Didn’t have my supply of fix it drugs with me as I had my backpack today, so waited until we got to Travelmunde, were my able assistants got me drugs and a heat pack – aarrhhh – nice!  So cut a long story short, the tour was cut short a bit, but we still managed to bike around 30 kms and had a good look at the Travemunde harbour, waterfront and around to Niendorf harbour.  Really pretty ride, right by the coast, the water looked clear, nice looking beaches – which you had to pay to get on, but they did have those nice little beach hut things which were pretty cool and the weather was a little weird, with thunder and rain threatening. Bit of a bugger really but that life.  Kept pumping in the drugs and kept the heat on to take the edge off.

walking Wilma

along the coast

nearer to the city end of the beach

rent a spot on the beach  (8 euros - all day I think)

Sand sculptors - 3 weeks to make in between the rain 

The boat that we are going on to Sweden

another spot along the beach

 Next day, after a reasonable sleep, was our last chance to look at Lubeck.  So we headed off by bus.  Lubeck is a beautiful looking city, surrounded by a river, bit like a moat really.  We had a shopping list so we concentrated on that first, ticking all the boxes and then had a wee look around, but ran out of time quickly.  We would love to come back here there is so much we missed, it is always hard shopping for specific things in a city you don’t know.  We planned to be back home before 5pm as we were going to a show tonight, but when we got to the train, they were all delayed as some kids were playing on the tracks, so held all the trains up for around 30 mins.  Anyway, we did make it back and we went to a Cowboy and Indian outdoor show.  To dodge all the traffic and save some time we drove to a nearby train station and got the train to another village and then walked to the show.  Christiane had kindly got us a program which had the Winnetou II story outline in English, otherwise we may have been a bit lost.  It was all in German. The set was amazing, huge, main cast of 14 people, with of course loads of others and I think a stunt crew of 7 people; real horses, falcon, gunfire, fireworks etc The show is put on every year, every day, twice a day, for three months of course it has a new story each year, but is always cowboys and Indians.  Amazing!

All set for a good cowboy show.

The grand finale.

Saturday, was a day of rest, housework, packing and an enjoyable farewell dinner prepared by master chef Christian;  Chicken shes kebabs, maize and Tim’s potatoes – Yummy.  Christian and Christiane are coming to NZ in January and February next year, so we sat and helped them with some more information and a little planning before watching another English movie.

We left Steinfeld around 8am for Travemunde were we caught the huge ferry to Sweden docking at Trelleborg, then catching a bus to Alicia – can’t wait.

Many thanks to Chrsitian, Christiane and Tim for having us, we really enjoyed our stay and hope to call in again for a quick visit in about a month.