Trying to Leave Germany

By Bea
I know what a first world country looks and feels like, I grew up in Australia, the USA is first world. Germany has no right calling itself first world or comparing itself to these countries. It is SO more civilised than those, its off the charts. It has cycle ways and I don’t mean paths I mean complete networks with their own lanes, road signs and traffic lights and not just in the cities but in every village and hamlet as well, and not even just there, they link every village, hamlet and city, its amazing. Its towns, especially in Northern Germany are beautiful.

Arriving from Helsinki we spent the first night in Lübeck expecting to leave early the next morning... we didn’t. We realised this wasn’t a town to be breezed through so we booked an extra night. I commented at the time, ‘no town deserves to be this beautiful’, even when its overcast and cold it was stunning.

From Lübeck we headed to Münster, the closest town to the auto yards, for a totally utilitarian stop. Munster is a wonderfully laid back, 1200 year old, university town, The city centre around Prinzipalmarkt is especially beautiful as is the green park that rings the old town.
Having cycled through the old town and around the parks on our new bikes (oh yes another van essential) we continued our ride along the picturesque Dortmund-Ems canal back to Dülmen where we would pick up our van and head straight to Denmark.

This is when the ‘Sorensen Effect’ started! Mike is an architect friend based in Margaret River- www.sorensenarchitects.com.au, He is also Pete’s snowboard buddy for our trips to Japan.
Mike spent many years in this neck of the woods, and in fact, met his wife Britta here. He has a history here and a deep passion for its towns and villages.
Casual emails became lengthy essays on where and what we should visit and why. ‘You gotta go to Plon it’s a really pretty lake area, oh and from there north west to Bergenhusen, a little village famous for its storks (and I worked there) then on to Flensburg, a wonderful port city on the Danish boarder.. oh and call in to Momo and say hi to Malene...’
Unfortunately Mike was right, every town and village he suggested out shone his waxings.

From Münster we headed north past Hamburg (sorry Mike) to Plon. Which did in fact, turn out to be a ‘really pretty lake area’.

Locals were enjoying their summer, paddling, rowing and swimming in the lake. We selected a campsite on the lake and took the opportunity to test - compact camper life! We spent the next 2 days, walking and cycling from picturesque rural landscapes to off road woody tracks and lakeside paths. Unfortunately in the afternoon, just after buying groceries, it began to rain as we cycled home. I tried to protect the cardboard carton of eggs but needless to say the eggs survived but the carton didn’t!

From Plon it was on to Bergunhusen (as per Mike’s recommendation). We found a campsite in a small town just outside called Suderstapel (also has a population of storks). We were given a fantastic campsite right down on the riverside.

Once set up and again went for a walk around this tiny town, I pointed and laughed saying “look at their ‘sculpture’ to the stork. It is so typical stereo type. A flag pole with a nest on top, with a stork on it...” just as I finished ‘monument’ moved, they were in fact purpose built stork nests. The next morning we visit to Bergunhusen (15 mins down the road). Wow, what a beautiful town. The ‘monuments’ to the storks were everywhere and all had several storks habituating them! They certainly had their fair share of these birds. The town itself was quaint and peaceful.

As we continued on toward to Flensburg, we notice several horse and carriages, then saw more in the yard of an old farm house. We pulled in to ask what was going on and discovered that it was the national championships for horse and buggy teams. Teams had come from all over Germany to compete in time trials through a services of obstacle courses. These teams of 4 horses and 3 riders were amazingly agile through the very complicated courses, it was amazing to watch. Funny what you bump into when you have no plans!!

We arrived in Langballigau, a quaint seaside village just outside Flensburg, in the early evening. After setting up, we had planned to go for a run but instead walked around the boat harbour and along the jetty stopping for local bevies and, being a seaside village,... local seafood snacks.

The next morning we drove into Flensburg, as we reached the centre, we noticed a camper van parking sign. When we pulled up, we realised this was one of those free overnight stops - bonus! We parked the van and went for a walk into town.
As Mike had described, Flensburg is a lovely old port town on the Baltic side. The old town, with its pedestrian streets lined with cafes, gently rolls down to the dock filled with wonderful old sailing vessels, all still in use.

We strolled up to Momo, an organic food purveyor that also does wonderful, and popular organic lunch bowls, to surprise Malene. She couldn’t believe friends of Mike and Britta would just walk through the door, it was great.
We spent the rest of the day exploring the town and its rum history! Then returned to Momo the next morning to stock up with organic produce.

Finally, after more than 2 weeks trying to get out of Germany, we made it to the Danish Boarder.
If we keep finding places like these we may never get to Cape Town!!