John.Dylan.Spooner

A short ride after last week's long ride. A nice 39 km ride along Altona side of the river in the direction of Wedel. Dropping down from Altona to join the Elbe Cycling path in the direction Wedel, With views across the river to Finkenwerder and the massive Airbus factory and airport that dominates the view to the left. This route can get very busy at weekends because it is very popular with the local population both old and young, so riding this route in the week is far more pleasant than on a Saturday or Sunday unless you set out early. So next spot is the picturesque Blankenese former Home to Ship Captains in the glory days of mass shipping before the Massive container ships arrived. Now home to the wealthy and Middle class . Here you will find Hotels Beaches and sailing clubs bars and restaurants. All with views over the river that as shaped this part of Germany for generations. Further down this route you will pass light houses and more beaches and a campsite. A bit further I had a suprise normally along this route you have to climb a long set of stairs because the path was always blocked because of the old Wedel Power Station. But now the fence is open and new benches have been placed , but instead Now you have a short 18% climb to get back to the road needed to get to road level. Once back on the normal main road then follow the directions to Wedel and both the Welcoming posts were all ships arriving into Hamburg are greeted has they enter Hamburg waters. Also the newly improved water front, With new apartments and bars , Cafés and a Italian ice cream bar. In all a pleasant route for a 2 hr ride Even better when it is a nice Sunny day.

So I decided to rewrite my trip details with a little more detail , now that I am recovered from the trip. So my return route was shorter and in a deviated off the outbound route. Starting in Cuxhaven. But then going through. Belum. Neuhausen. Gebersdorf Niederelbe. Laak. Osten with its old suspended Bridge crossing. Großenwörden. Stade Jork Airbus / Finkenwerder Finishing just off Elbchasse as my path was block by new road works & I could no longer keep to Komoots route without a detour. Plus I was tired and not in the mood to get back on route. So I took a more direct route for the last 2 km home. I will add additional pictures found via the internet to hilight some of the places I went through but did not stop at for anyone using this track as a basis for their own northern Germany trail reference. It was an enjoyable day but I should have taken more time in both directions to look around. But this was my first overnight or multi day trip, so I made many classic errors.

So my first Bikepacking trip with overnight stay. From Hamburg to Cuxhaven on the coast. The route went mainly ok. One bag fastening issues and a front derailleur issue and two unmarked Elbe Cycling route closures were the only bike and Navi issues. Physically it became a challenge once past 100 km distance with the SW 25 km Winds and the very open landscape as you getting closer to Cuxhaven. That was a test luckily I found a roadside wind and weather shelter with a table and benches that allowed me to use my stove and cook some food and have a warm drink and a short break, before talking the last 40 km. Still as challenge as I was now well beyond any normal ride distance since I restarted cycling after a accident in the 90's. Mostly just daily commuting with the odd weekend ride & a couple of 100 km rides in the last few years. But I dug in and suffered though keeping a tempo that would not kill me. I finally made it to the Sea front at Cuxhaven. I had planned to camp but all the sights in Cuxhaven were full, so I found a Hotel quickly through Booking com as it was already getting late in the evening. There I could shower, find some food nearby and recharge and rethink my return plans for Monday. Next day after a good Breakfast and a complete repacking to get a better balance with my Bike, also replanning my return route to be shorter and less open to winds I returned back to Hamburg, added in more short stops and a planned warm food break. I finally made it back home late afternoon Monday. What I learned. I need better fitness for sure but I knew that at the start. Better understanding of the route or route options. Finding out more about places I could have visited along the route that I missed seeing. Better knowledge about camping stops. Different food types to carry for cooking. I was very happy with the trip overall mistakes and errors on a first trip are to be expected as a norm. I now hope I can not wait to long until my next trip out.