The first bicycle tour of the year is always something special. There is the spring-like breezing in our face on the one hand. On the other hand we enjoy the early bloomer and the delicate green around us. The feeling of freedom, the first warm sun beams on our face and just to enjoy life as it is: flowing like water, just like the river next to us: the Weser. This feeling is unbeatable to me. Here comes my plea: don\u2019t mess too much with the news. Release yourself from the daily worries, get on your bike and ride it alongside the river Weser. <\/p>\n
First day: Between Holzminden and Bad Karlshafen<\/strong> After our check-in we drive by car to Holzminden. From here we want to cycle towards Hannoversch M\u00fcnden. It is still quite chilly on the bike but after a while we get out of our clothes, it is going to be a really nice spring day. And right in front of us we come across the first highlight: the cloister of Corvey.<\/p>\n Cloister Corvey<\/strong> The beautiful port of Bad Karlshafen<\/strong> Marina border triangle<\/strong> Owl luck<\/strong> Back on our bikes we are on our return path. With a last ounce of strength and the last daylight we reach our car. We drive back to Silberborn where a perfect three course menu awaits us. The icing on the cake at the end of the day.<\/p>\n Second day: Between Polle and Bodenwerder<\/strong><\/p>\n The second day starts the same as the first one: with bright sunshine. That makes it much easier for us to get up quite early. Moreover, breakfast is calling for us! While enjoying our goodies the sky gets overcast. No problem. Quickly we change our plans and drive at first to F\u00fcrstenberg and visit the namesake F\u00fcrstenberger porcelain factory. <\/p>\n We move enthusiastically between the high-quality coffee- and dinnerware. Time passes by quickly this way and suddenly the sun comes out again. Now then we drive to the waterside and rush into the next adventure. This time we start at Polle. The idea is to go by ferry boat to the other side of the river. However the ferry does not run yet. Therefore we have to cross the hills around us to reach Bodenwerder. <\/p>\n Locals tell us that the way through the hills is steep and stressful. We ask what they mean by \u201estressful\u201c. They estimated the difference in altitude by 250 which is practicable to us. <\/p>\n High above the R\u00fchler Schweiz<\/strong> Visiting the baron of M\u00fcnchhausen<\/strong> We take a good look around the place and come across something that really fits the current situation in the Ukraine: a memorial by the Moscovite foundation \u201eDialogue of cultures \u2013 common world\u201c. Sounds meanwhile like mockery due to the horrible occurances in the Ukraine. But still the monument seems to remind us that a different and peaceful way is possible. <\/p>\n Directly at the Weser we sit down for some coffee and food. Afterwards we cycle towards Hehlen. We intend to take the next bridge over the Weser to cycle back alongside the other side of the river.<\/p>\n Return at castle Hehlen<\/strong>
\nOn our first day we drive by car with our bikes and luggage to our cosy accommodation, the \u201eLandhaus Sollingsh\u00f6he\u201c. I take a look onto the menu because we booked half-board. I cannot trust my eyes when I see that they offer my favourite dish: dumplings with mushroom sauce! What a start!<\/p>\n
\nThis is our first stopp. The former Benedictine cloistr is located at the gates of H\u00f6xter. Unfortunately the church, the actual highlight, is closed for today. That\u2019s a pitty but gives us more time on the bike. We move on to H\u00f6xter. Meanwhile we left Lower Saxony and arrived at North Rhine-Westpahlia. Regrettably H\u00f6xter with its half-timbered houses is crowded on this Saturday. Therefore we decide to move on. We are looking for a coffee stop, prefered close to the water and in a cosy surrounding.<\/p>\n
\nShortly before Beverungen we leave the Weser cycle path and ride towards the Landhotel Weserblick that offers a terrace. This is our beer, coffee and french fries stop. After the break we move on to Beverungen and from there to Bad Karlshafen. The harbour is worth a visit. <\/p>\n
\nAt Bad Karlshafen we choose the bridge crossing the Weser and reach the marina border triangle. It\u2019s amazing: we started in Lower Saxony this morning, drove to North Rhine Westphalia and have reached Hessen at Bad Karlshafen and now we are back in Lower Saxony. What a journey! This experience needs another drink. We stop at the \u201eGasthaus Eulenkrug\u201c. On a meadow we spot a donkey. The animal known as stubborn draws our attention to it because of its confidingness. The fenced area is close to one of the guest tables. It\u2019s only logical that the donkey peers again and again onto the plates.<\/p>\n
\nWe get a table directly in the sun with a view onto the water. Awesome. To mark the occasion I order a Aperol Spritz. Lying on a wooden bench I close my eyes for a moment and take a deep breath. Simply wonderful. Unfortunately we are running out of time, it will be dark quite soon. <\/p>\n
\nFrom Polle we cycle to Bev\u00f6rde. That’s an easy ride. We go on to Grave, this is where the hilly part starts. Right behind the city limits there is a quite steep ascend to the highland. We drive towards Ottenstein and then turn right via the M\u00fchlenberg, passing by a former stone mill and the \u201eSenator Meyer memorial\u201c until we reach R\u00fchle. <\/p>\n
\nWe hit the Weser cycle path again and ride to Bodenwerder. Right at the outskirts of town we come across a familiar face, the guy with the white pony tale sitting on a flying cannonball. Whom we are talking about? Well you know, its Baron M\u00fcnchhausen. He is supposed to be born in this place.<\/p>\n
\nAt Hehlen we discover the namesake castle. The really nice compound with its spacious park is in private hands. Joe Six-Pack can sit at the \u201eSchloss Wirtschaft\u201c and take advantage of the wonderful terrace with a view onto the Weser. It is a wonderful place but unfortunately we just had our lunchbreak. Tough luck. Therefore we move on and start our return path via Bevern back to Holzminden. Back at our accommodiation we spoil ourselves with another perfect meal.<\/p>\n