2017 Tour along Polish border River Oder

I start my trip in Hook of Holland after catching the ferry from Harwich. I have 2 favourite campsite to start my trip with and this one is in Dordrecht south of Rotterdam. The first year I went through Rotterdam I was going around in circles trying to get across rivers, so now I get to the centre of Rotterdam and catch the river taxi. It’s a catamaran which has a large area for bikes, it powers up and hacks along stopping at taxi stops. At the campsite it’s the time to see what you’ve left at home and repack so it’s right.I go over to Venlo and on the way out there is an amazing cafe which is a wildlife centre for children. I then finally go down the Rhine to Bonn and turn east but there is a hilly after going through Siegen. Here I climber over 450m at points where it’s 10% gradient, granny gear and methodical pedalling gets you up after 45minutes. You’re on the road but the car drivers understand what you are doing and act appropriate. At the top I put a rain jacket on as I knew it was going to get cold going down the other side with the sweat from the climb. I was right my hands were locked in place over the brakes.I went through Erfurt and ended up in Dresden where I lived at one time and stayed with friends. Another favourite city to visit. From here down the Elbe river and just after Pirna I turned east taking me to Zittau. The area is hill, very steep hills, you need to buy food when you find it as there are few shops. I got to Taubenheim camping barn, it was large building where tens are set up inside the barn on the first floor where you sleep. The hills get steep but the views are awesome all the way to Zittau. Here you follow the river Oder all the way to Usedom on the Baltic or Ostsee. Along the Oder you come across a derelict fine paper factory, and it was the water that made the paper special. There is St. Marienthal Abbey where you can get bed and breakfast, I got there to early in the morning to stop for the day, so didn’t try it. Campsites on the side of pubs, old railway wagons to sleep in, it has got so much going for it. I was riding with a guy from Netherlands and at Frankfurt Oder we came across a house with a sign outside for cyclist to stop for drink and food for free. The owner asked us to stop and it ended up he had so many people help him when he has been on holiday he wanted to repay some. He worked as the Olympic Deutsch Cycle team trainer and he had some great stories. We eat too much and stayed too long so didn’t ride much that day.There is an amazing place to visit with the family, tree houses, play areas, cafes, The Cultural Island - The Secret World of Turisede. (turisede.com/bildgalerie.html)From Usedom I followed the coast route until I got to Lübeck the turned south to Hanover and then picking up the R1 again and ended up in Hook of Holland. The coast route is not too hilly but you pass through some lovely towns and stay at good campsites. Travemünde it is one very expensive place, Rolls Royces and all the sports cars you can imagine, it’s funny because so many drivers really don’t like stopping for cyclist but they know they have too. Wismar is a worthwhile stop over for the day.