From Signpost Hell to Dumpling Heaven: 125 km on the MTB
Autumn has really turned things up a notch weather-wise: temperatures climbed as high as 26°C last weekend! More than enough reason to hop on our mountain bikes and head out for two beautiful rides.
On Saturday, we headed into the Weser Uplands, more precisely to Bückeburg. The plan was to explore the countryside around this beautiful half-timbered town in the Schaumburg district. Well… the rather unfortunate signposting didn’t exactly make things easy for us. On Sunday, we stayed closer to home and followed hidden bike paths to Wolfenbüttel and back through the mysterious Oderwald forest.
Lost in the Signpost Jungle near Bückeburg
Around noon, we arrive in Bückeburg in the beautiful Weser Uplands and get our bikes ready. Naively, we put our trust in the bicycle route signs. We had roughly checked a map beforehand to get an idea of where we were supposed to go. We initially head towards Bückeburg Castle. At the castle, we spot the next signs and follow the route towards “Petzen” (great name, by the way :-)). We end up in the castle’s extensive park grounds, passing a hunting party and the golf course along the way. Then the signs start to confuse us a little, and before we know it, we’re back in Bückeburg. Wait… what? Did we just go in a circle? We take a look at Google Maps. Ah yes, there it is: the road to Bad Eilsen. We set off – unfortunately, riding parallel to the main road for a while – but eventually find our way into the Harrl, which is basically Bückeburg’s urban forest. Now things start getting really nice. We continue following the signs and eventually arrive in Bad Eilsen. We follow the signs again and…end up back in Bückeburg. You’ve got to be kidding me!
Coffee in Minden
We’re getting a little annoyed by now. But we’re not giving up that easily, so we decide to make a fresh start. This time, we head towards the train station. From there, we follow the signs towards Baum Castle. We reach the Mittelland Canal, but unfortunately, the bicycle bridge is closed. Well, that’s not a big deal. We’ll just take the next one. Made it! We’re on the other side of the canal. Once again, we follow the signs and enter the Schaumburg Forest. We follow it for a while and, once again, end up at a main road. Oh, great. And you get three guesses where the sign points. That’s right: Bückeburg. So we turn around and head back. We ride towards Eversen, where we’re told there are a few beautiful lakes. On the way there, I spot a signpost saying that Minden is only five kilometers away. By now, we’re seriously craving coffee, so I suggest taking a break in the beautiful old town. Unfortunately, the route there takes us along or directly on the road.
Once we arrive in Minden, we lock up the bikes and start looking for a café. We find one on the beautiful market square: Paulette Paris. The name sounds like French flair, and the cozy outdoor seating looks very inviting. We order two Americanos. When the black brew arrives, we bravely take our first sip and immediately realize that this coffee means business. We’re definitely awake now. Unfortunately, the café doesn’t have any Baileys. That would have taken some of the edge off the coffee. 😉 Suddenly, a rather loud sound rings out behind us.
What on earth is that?
A glance at the beautiful half-timbered building behind us provides the answer: the sound is coming from the carillon at Haus Schmieding. The mechanical figures depict the legendary founding story of Minden. According to the legend, the builder of the building is said to have declared: “This castle shall now be ‘min und din’ (mine and yours),” to which Widukind replied that it should therefore be called “Min-din.” And that’s how the name “Minden” supposedly came about. Well, you learn something new every day.
Beautiful Country Lanes Back to Bückeburg
For the return journey, we definitely want to avoid the road, so we start looking for an alternative. And, amazingly enough, we succeed. Most of the way back towards Bückeburg takes us along country lanes. At the junction where we had previously been sent towards Minden, we now turn towards Petzen and actually find the route to Lake Gevattersee. We take another break here and enjoy the wonderful peace and quiet, the quacking ducks, and the beginnings of an unlikely friendship between a swan and a dog. Feeling thoroughly relaxed and happy, we get back on our bikes for the final stretch to Bückeburg. Once again, we discover some beautiful little back roads and eventually roll back into the area around the train station, where our car is parked.
Pure Indulgence in Einbeck
Since we still have a fairly long drive home ahead of us, we decide to have dinner halfway home. Our choice falls on the cozy half-timbered town of Einbeck. AI had recommended a restaurant to us, but once we arrive, we decide to go for the Brodhaus instead – an excellent choice, as it quickly turns out. Because what do my tired eyes discover on the menu? That’s right: DUMPLINGS! The bread dumplings with savoy cabbage, part of the special Bavarian Oktoberfest menu, taste absolutely heavenly! There is simply nothing better than a proper meal after a 65-kilometer bike ride! Well fed and completely satisfied, we head home.
From Schladen to Wolfenbüttel
On Sunday, the sun is once again shining so invitingly from the sky that we can’t resist getting back on our bikes. Who knows – perhaps this will be our last beautiful ride of the year? This time, we start nice and easy right from home and cycle to Schladen, the starting point of our chosen route. Rather than following the bike path directly alongside the main road, we take a little detour “out the back,” practically from Heiningen onwards, through the fields towards Rittergut Dorstadt. We didn’t know this route either. We get off our bikes at the estate and take some time to admire the beautifully restored grounds and their wonderful garden. Just to the right behind the estate, we find a path and a bridge crossing the Oker River. We turn left and continue towards the Bungenstedt Windmill.
The initially wide path gradually turns into a genuine singletrack and becomes increasingly overgrown. You have to fight your way through a bit of undergrowth, but it’s absolutely worth it. Looking back, this was actually the most beautiful part of the entire ride. We continue along a country lane and eventually reach the Bungenstedt Windmill, where we take a short breather. From here, it’s just a stone’s throw to Wolfenbüttel – unfortunately, once again along the road. In the Lower Saxon district capital, we head for Beachclub Wolfenbüttel. Over a cold beer, we figure out our route back. If possible, we want to avoid bike paths alongside the road, so we set our sights on a route through the Oderwald forest. I’ve already had some very mixed experiences with this “maze,” so I warn us to be careful.
Well then, we decide to give it a go anyway. And, of course, things turn out exactly as they have to: At some point, we’re riding in circles. Eventually, we give up in frustration and leave the forest, heading down to Dorstadt. From there, we return along the bike path next to the main road, hoping to get back to Schladen as quickly as possible. Once we arrive in Schladen, we make a beeline for the nearest gas station. We’re experiencing a serious hunger bonk! Luckily, we’re still able to get our hands on a pretzel roll and a few quark balls.
Phew. That was close!
A Visit from the Grasshopper
Just as we’re about to set off again, I spot a really large grasshopper sitting on my pedal. Wait a minute…How did this little fellow manage to get there? Naturally, I have to take a few pictures before we continue. With renewed energy and already looking forward to dinner, we head back home. Once again, we’ve clocked more than 60 kilometers on the bike computer. That’s a pretty serious amount of cycling for one weekend!
