Le Mans to Berlin and a bit beyond

[Wapping]

I’ve arrived and am setting up in the fellow’s garden. A super bloke, very friendly, as we muddle by in GermEnglish. For EUR 17 a night, with use of the facilities, I can’t complain.

It is certainly in the countryside, on the flat flood plain before the river Oder. Kustrin is an hour away by bicycle, so I think I’ll try to use my bike as much as possible. It’ll maybe cut out some of the sites, but I can always come back.

I’ll then leave via the Halbe Pocket, which will retrace the route taken by the retreating German army and civilians, which is apt. I can then cut up to the point where they finally surrendered to the American on the Elbe.

I crossed the Elbe today, on my way south of Berlin. I was thinking as I drove from the Rhine to Berlin, I was following (near enough) the path of the American army and, of course, a path (amongst many) that RAF / USAAF planes would have followed.

 

[Udders]

Cracking trip so far!

I bet you’re finding driving / manoeuvring the new van a damn site easier than the Bailey!

 

[Udders]

The ex missus got the hump with me when we were in Metz because I said she looked like one of the gargoyles on the churchy thing.

 

[Wapping]

Cracking trip so far!

I bet you’re finding driving / manoeuvring the new van a damn site easier than the Bailey!

It is a joy to drive and manoeuvre. The 360 cameras are very clear, but if I am very unsure I still get out and have a quick look, just to get a feel for where I’m going to move to.

 

[Britain]

Please can we have pictures of the inside of your van?
It really is stunning

 

[Wapping]

The owner’s wife has lent me an excellent plasticised, very clear local map, much better than the one I’d brought with me:

 

[dean0n0]

Please can we have pictures of the inside of your van?
It really is stunning

Have a look here, https://www.ukgser.com/community/threads/bailey-gone…-new-vehicle-on-order.506656/

 

[snelly]

The ex missus got the hump with me when we were in Metz because I said she looked like one of the gargoyles on the churchy thing.

Good job you did'nt say one of the Sheela- na- gigs;;

 

[Wapping]

Thursday, and the warm weather seems to be settling over the Oder.

Some housekeeping this morning, just to tidy-up the vehicle after a fortnight away, along with a call to the office. Then to pedal into Seelow for some groceries.

The house is in the tiny hamlet of Friedensthal, which is nothing more than a few houses at the foot of the Seelow Heights, which the owner’s wife refers to as “The mountains”. Though, I guess if you live on a flood plain that’s flatter than Lincolnshire, they may well rival the Himalayas:



The thing that amazes me is that I am at the back of beyond in Germany, but the rural roads are pothole free. This is the road (about a car and a half wide) past where I am staying:



My sister farms in rural Warwickshire, where their unmade farm track is all but better than the roads supposedly ‘maintained’ by Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire councils.

 

[Wapping]

Using the very good 1:60,000 scale map the lady kindly lent me, I can better find the local points mentioned in the books I have read.

The battle on day one must have swept straight over where I am staying, as several of the neighbouring villages are all mentioned. Interestingly, the little railway, which the the Germans used is still there and active. I was reading that the Germans (it must have been very close by) used the railway to mount broken down tanks onto flatbed wagons, to use as a kind of mobile artillery section.

 

[snelly]

Thursday, and the warm weather seems to be settling over the Oder.

Some housekeeping this morning, just to tidy-up the vehicle after a fortnight away, along with a call to the office. Then to pedal into Seelow for some groceries.

The house is in the tiny hamlet of Friedensthal, which is nothing more than a few houses at the foot of the Seelow Heights, which the owner’s wife reveres to as “The mountains”. Though, I guess if you live on a flood plain that’s flatter than Lincolnshire, they may well rival the Himalayas:

View attachment 513645

The thing that amazes me is that I am at the back of beyond in Germany, but the rural roads are pothole free. This is the road (about a car and a half wide) past where I am staying:

View attachment 513647View attachment 513648View attachment 513649

My sister farms in rural Warwickshire, where their unmade farm track is all but better than the roads supposedly ‘maintained’ by Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire councils.

Not built on the cheap to start with; and any repairs needing to be done are done with the mind of making it last; Germany is a bloody big country and rural Germany is beautiful; or it was last time i was there.

 

[Wapping]

On arrival, my hosts asked if I’d like rolls for breakfast? They duly arrived this morning:




This morning I’ve learned the best places to go for an ice cream and where to swim in the lakes.

 

[Wapping]

Not built on the cheap to start with; and any repairs needing to be done are done with the mind of making it last; Germany is a bloody big country and rural Germany is beautiful; or it was last time i was there.

They were repairing large stretches of the autobahn on the approach to Berlin. Unlike the UK, work was going on, rather than miles of cones with nothing.

Like France, once you are past the big cities on the Rhine, Germany becomes increasingly rural and pretty much flat, other than low rolling hills and lots of trees. They have definitely taken to windmills and solar for power. I quite like the windmills, as they look rather ‘other worldly’ to me. The scenery and the small towns is all attractive, for sure. I like the place.

 

[Oldrat]

We travelled through Germany recently, avoiding motorways, just following the pretty back toads and we were amazed at the number of solar panel installations everywhere, even the smallest outbuildings.

I wondered whether the German govt had offered subsidies to increase self reliance? Especially after they withdrew from the much derided fuel deal they’d signed with Putin which collapsed when he invaded Ukraine.

 

[EVskiy]

On arrival, my hosts asked if I’d like rolls for breakfast? They duly arrived this morning:

View attachment 513654


This morning I’ve learned the best places to go for an ice cream and where to swim in the lakes.

Love a bit of lake swimming. Nothing beats a tranquil glass line waters. I grew up surrounded by the lakes within 30-60 minutes walk.

 

[Dave T]

Germany is a bloody big country and rural Germany is beautiful; or it was last time i was there.

Yes, we took a road trip in 2024, nominally though Dortmund, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and into Freiberg, (then back up through Luxembourg, France, Belgium) the rural sections were indeed very beautiful (and very friendly). Anyway, not wishing to hijack @Wapping 's excellent trip report any further (many thanks @Wapping - I have thoroughly enjoyed following your adventure and very much appreciate the time out of your trip that you have given to sharing your experiences), I'll hand it back over to the man himself...

 

[Wapping]

I used the motorways, simply because I needed to get as quickly as possible from Le Mans to the Polish border. As Sgt Bilco said in his posts about delivering race cars to the south of France, there is actually something quite nice about setting the cruise control at about 65 mph and watching the countyside roll by. It’s very different to being in a car and, indeed, very different to being on a motorcycle.

One thing I did notice is that the style of villages / small towns change, as you cross into Germany. Lots of white / cream painted two storey buildings, with their tiled roofs. All almost uniform in style. Likewise, the countryside changes as you roll along.

 

[snelly]

I used the motorways, simply because I needed to get as quickly as possible from Le Mans to the Polish border. As Sgt Bilco said in his posts about delivering race cars to the south of France, there is actually something quite nice about setting the cruise control at about 65 mph and watching the countyside roll by. It’s very different to being in a car and, indeed, very different to being on a motorcycle.

One thing I did notice is that the style of villages / small towns change, as you cross into Germany. Lots of white / cream painted two storey buildings, with their tiled roofs. All almost uniform in style. Likewise, the countryside changes as you roll along.

It's hard to tell when your in a nature park or not sometimes; i was thinking about the park when you ride down from Eupen and monashue; ( excuse the spelling i'am on phonics here )to the Ring; lovely and clean.

 

[Wapping]

Day one’s sites and sights completed, with one omission which I’ll correct.

Back now, after taking my Brompton along a field track which would have deterred many GS riders. As a reward for my spirit of Adventure (with a capital A) I am having Germany’s greatest gift to the world since the flügelhorn:



PS Snaps and blurb to follow.

 

[LockieP]

Your choice of beverage is interesting.
A bar near us serves Krombacher lager & Krombacher also make their own Spezi (cola & orange) that tastes great as a shandy with the Krombacher lager.