Day 5: Esens/Bensersiel to Schillighörn

The winds are picking up. Petra has got two tiny kites in her saddle bags that we fly at our lunch time break in Harlesiel.

On the final stretch from Harlesiel to Schillighörn, Mum and I race ahead, waiting for the others to join us. We stop at an old farm house and wait and wait and wait. We take photos of me on the bike (see below) and a passing farm truck that was ploughing the fields. Finally we decide to cycle back to check why the others don't join.

Oma Elke's eBike has broken down! The chain is still in place, but the front cogs don't propel the chain, so that she cannot pedal any more. 8 km from our destination, the grown-ups swap bikes: Opa Siegfried takes Mum's manual bike, Oma Elke gets Opa's eBike, and Mum takes the broken down one. For a kilometre, Mum tries to scooter forward. Then, Heinz offers a tow: He uses the additional strength from his eBike to pedal in a very straight line, at very constant speed, while Mum hangs onto his saddle bag. They are both concentrating on straight lines, and avoiding to run into each other. Mum says this is "emergency" operation, therefore, no more nice photos today!

As soon as we reach our Youth Hostel in Schillighörn, our engineer Heinz kicks Oma's broken down bike, saying that such a new bike should not cause trouble. Instantly, the pedals grip the chain again, and the bike is fixed! Three kicks have fixed and issue that has caused us so much trouble for 8 km!

Mental note: It is very important to always take an engineer on a trip, as they know how to fix things! :-)

The Hostel in Schillighörn is again full of school kids on school excursion. They play Viking Chess with us, where we throw sticks at a "king" and at "pawns" to topple them over. The kids also tell us that in Germany, it is illegal to take time out from school for a holiday.

Today we cycled 45 km.

The first day of a serious addiction: From little things big things grow.  This is still the testing kite, before the real thing starts.

Mum and me waiting for the others. 

Traffic on the cycle track.

Day 4: Rest Day in Esens/Bensersiel

After three days of cycling we have deserved a break. Our Youth Hostel is full of school kids on school excursion. We play with them table tennis and hide and seek.

In the morning we cycle into the town centre of Esens. We must have family in this town, as we cycle past the Pension Nordlicht Kappelmann!

There is also a man with a new fancy car that has been built like an old-timer. He allows us to sit on the driver seat.

In the afternoon we do a guided "Watt" walk on the ebbing ocean floor. Our guide explains to us the sands and silts, the low oxygen level in the soil, and the molluscs and worms that live in it.

We also go swimming with great uncle Heinz. When he was younger he used to regularly win the local swimming competitions, and once even the regional one. He has now turned 77 years, and we still cannot catch him in the pool!

Only 10 km today.

I am leading the way between Bensersiel and Esens.

Pension Nordlicht Kappelmann in Esens.

My new car.

Esens windmill.

A Schremmer in front of a Schlemmer.

Nice creatures these Watt worms.

Walking the ocean floor at low tide. The ferry uses a dredged water way.

Day 3: Norddeich to Esens/Bensersiel

I am falling into a routine. The slanted cycle tracks along the dykes are totally awesome! Sheep graze on them. I have been trying to catch and pet one from day one, but they always run away when I approach. Today, the sheep are of a different kind, with white wool and black faces. They are all over our cycle track, and finally I catch one! It's wool is oily!

We cycle through Neßmersiel and Dornumersiel to Bensersiel. A Siel is a long narrow harbour that shelters the ships from the storms at sea.

Ice cream break in Neßmersiel, and they have put up a signpost to Great Barrier Reef at home: only 14,725 km from the North Sea.

Another 44 km today. I am getting used to the distances.

Fancy seeing you here.

It is so hard to catch and pat a sheep! 

Great Barrier Reef: 14,725 km, we must be at the North Sea.

My friend and I.

Another Siel harbour.

Day 2: Emden to Norddeich

I was so so so tired after yesterday's ride. But our Youth Hostel in Emden has got a beautiful shower and nice bed, and I feel much better this morning. Whilst the others are getting ready, I challenge Jonas to table soccer matches in the yard.

We start out with visiting the Kesselschleuse, the only 4-way water lock in Europe: 4 different water levels in four different canal systems meet. If you want to take your boat from one canal to another one you have to use the water lock. What a funny way t must be to travel through all this water locks!

There are bicycle signposts everywhere, pointing out distances to all sorts of small villages. They also have themed cycle tracks, like "windmill route" or "Dollard route".

It's a long trip today: 55 km.

Before starting on Day 2: Petra, Opa Siegfried, Oma Elke, Heinz, Mum, Jonas and me.

Kesselschleuse Emden, the only 4-way water lock in all of Europe, where 4 different water levels meet.

Ducking under cycle barriers.

Cycle signposts everywhere. 

This photo is for Isaac: Me in front of Holland on the other side of the ebbing river Ems.

A quick rest on the dyke towards Pilsum Lighthouse.

A longer rest at the Pilsum Lighthouse.

Big Bicycle Trip with the Extended Schremmer Family: 270 km along the North Sea

This bicycle trip had been planned for weeks. Petra's camper van in Dangast on the North Sea is our base camp, she also provides a bicycle for Mum and find a rental place for Jonas' and my bike.

For the next week, and for 270 km along the North Sea, we will be riding our bikes from Leer to Dangast. Our first day starts at the camper van. We cycle to the train station, take two trains, and start our real trip in Leer on the river Ems, heading north to Emden.

Today: 44 km.

The moment before we start our big trip. Clockwise: great uncle Heinz, Jonas, aunt Petra, me, Mum, Opa Siegfried, Oma Elke. 

I love these Northern German cycle tracks!

The proof: My favourite German food is ice cream!

I am not the only one who likes that food.

In Ditzum, looking back at the statue of a fisher man.

Playground in a very old town: Lügde

Oma Elke takes Jonas and me to a playground in the old town of Lügde.

Lügde dates back to anno 784!

I love this "telephone".

But Jonas is playing silly, making disgusting noises into my ear.

First class in ICE

On Tuesday we take the Inter City Express (ICE) train from Karlsruhe to Mum's parents Oma Elke and Opa Siegfried in Schieder/ Northrhine-Westfalia. We travel first class on black leather seats. A display on the train shows us that the train is often riding at 220 km/h. We see the landscape zooming past our window, catapulting us north.

travelling in style: ICE in Germany

Forward into Frankfurt, backward out: the engine reverses at this rail head