Floodwaters and High Spirits: A Wet Day at the Pisserbach
About half an hour into our hike, it becomes clear once again: I’m spoiled. Finding new challenges or highlights is getting harder. But surprises do come unexpectedly. So it was on our hike along the Pisserbach. Yes, that’s really its name. Historically, the stream marked the boundary between the former Duchy of Brunswick and the Kingdom of Hanover. But after the constant rain from Saturday evening to Sunday morning, a torrent of water, several meters high, formed and presented us with many obstacles.
How many highlights do we have today?
Today’s route came about by mistake. In Bettmar near Schellerten, a garden was to be visited today as part of the “Open Gate”. However, the Bettmar of our excursion is just behind Vechelde; both Bettmars are 23 km apart. Since we started quite late today, we wouldn’t have managed to visit both in one day anyway. So we decided on the walk. According to the route, we should expect 14 highlights along the way. That sounds good.
We start in Bettmar and first circle a local forest, which leads us to the natural swimming pool in Vechelde-Bettmar. It quickly becomes clear that yesterday’s rather heavy rains have soaked the forest floor quite a bit. After just a few minutes, the lower part of my pants is already quite dirty. And this is just the beginning!
It starts to drizzle lightly. However, the wind quickly blows the clouds away, so the small intermezzodoesn’t bother us. Since it’s quite cool today, only a solitary bike stands in front of the summer pool. Right next to it is the sports field. Here, things are rougher; anyone who insults or abuses the referee gets thrown off the field!
The Sadomaso Games of the Locals
As always, when my blonde head is not challenged, I come up with all sorts of nonsense. At the edge of the forest, we discover some agricultural equipment. The purpose of a slat-like device, which apparently folds up, isn’t immediately clear. But after noticing some branches in the background, stacked like a pyre, my imagination runs wild. The folding lounger is a trap – obviously. We don’t want to know what happens here under the cover of darkness. Okay, enough daydreaming, let’s move on.
A Porta-Potty in the Cornfield
A good while later, we leave the forest and find ourselves in front of a porta-potty. The practicality of this is not apparent to us. A few steps further, we pass a horse and three ponies. Naturally, I can’t pass up the four cuties. Initially, the four fellows look quite interested. But once it becomes clear that I’m just talking and have nothing to feed them, their interest wanes rather quickly.
Swap Trekking Shoes for Rubber Boots
From now on, the floodwaters from the Pisserbach (yes, that’s really its name!) are our constant companion. Below the hamlet of Schmedenstedt, the stream has swollen so much that the water has overflowed its banks. The first puddles on the asphalt are still manageable. But when we are supposed to go through the meadows again, we take the detour through the village. Here, a similar picture emerges. To our right, a potato field is so flooded that the farmer has to pump the water off the field to prevent the tubers from rotting.
However, I’m thirsty for something else. I need the next thrill. Back in the forest, we head towards the Mother Oak, the emblem of Schmedenstedt. Of course, such a historic place is equipped with an information board. And there it is, the horror of a rhyme. It is meant to highlight the once-proud Mother Oak – the pride of the village and even part of its coat of arms – which fell victim to a storm. With a diameter of five and a half meters and 1,000 years under its belt, it was one of the oldest trees in the district.
Next to the monument of the fallen oak stands an anvil, a symbol of a forge and a sign of the village name as a smithy. According to legend, a blacksmith worked in the Schmedenstedt woods, around whose homestead a settlement emerged. Later, we learn that the village was the center of a Hildesheim court district.
Bridge Over Troubled Water
After all this history, we continue through the forest. When I ask about the next highlight, the answer is: the Pisserbach. Again? I hope, as I let my companion know, that the water isn’t as high here. According to the tour description, we are supposed to cross the stream. I have my doubts. And indeed, when we reach the spot where we are supposed to cross, the water is so high that I can’t imagine anyone ever crossed from one bank to the other here. But what do I know? We look a bit clueless. Plan B? We follow the course of the stream, hoping to find a narrow spot to cross. Suddenly, we see two logs lying across the stream on our right. Is this supposed to be our rescue? We’re not entirely convinced and walk a bit further. And indeed, we find a small wooden bridge over the water.
Soon, we’re back in the meadow with the porta-potty. We need to cross the Pisser again. We find another crossing. Ah, lucky us. From there, the return to Bettmar is a breeze. I’ve finally found my adventure. There’s nothing better than a little thrill in the pit of your stomach and the uncertainty of how it will all turn out😊
The Half-Court at the Pisser
We’re almost back at the car when we encounter another cultural highlight. We discover the original water pump from the old Bettmar community bakery. An information board also tells us that this was once the site of the Half-Court at the Pisser.
