Day 21 Brilon

And we're off to Brilon. A short journey but one that gets us closer to the Netherlands border.

We were allowed on site early so we made camp and headed for the town. Another camp site on a hill!

So it was a short cycle downhill to a quiet and shut town - Bank Holiday Thursday!. It was a religious holiday. We had coffee in the town square where a parade through the town finished and they held a religious service.

 

Had a short thunder and lightning storm in the early evening

Day 20 Kassel

A relatively early start as we're cycling to see Hercules. We rode through the university city which is hosting an arts festival.     A bit of an awkward ride to the car park at the base of the park and then a long walk up to the castle. Water is released from tanks and falls from the statue downhill for 350 mts of waterfalls, grotto 's and other man made features. There are 534 steps to Hecules base. You can walk down following the water and see it filling each feature. It ends with a 50 mt jet in the bottom lake.  

Picked our way back to the site. Shower and out for a Chinese meal. Too tired to do anything else.

Day 19 Kassel

Today we left the lake at Oberhof and headed north west to Kassel.

On the way we stopped at Eisenach, home of Bach, the first BMW and Martin Luther. We visited the castle - Wartburg where he hid from the Catholics. 

 

Then on to the university city of Kassel where the site is next to the Fulda river. Mart had a ride into the city to check out how we are going to get to Schloss Wilhelmshohe tomorrow.

In the evening we had a ride out to a local mall which was very nice indeed: new looking with lots of good eating places. An American/German who was on the site to meet with his daughter who is doing her PhD in Kassel brought her over to help with directions for tomorrow. Both very nice and helpful.

Day 18 Oberhof

We went to look at the biathlon stadium!! We could go over the bridge - which was almost vertical to walk over so how on earth they ski over it I have no idea.

We couldn't quite go on the range but wow it's a long way and those targets are very small.

Beautiful campsite and a great position overlooking the reservoir.

 

We rode around the lake.

Martin went for a scary and steep 10k ride up over mountain trails to Oberhof town - no phone signal!!

Day 17 Grossbuchlberg

A quiet day at the site sitting by the pool and an occasional swim. Mart did cycle down to the local town for cake!! 

Day 16 Grossbuchlberg

A fairly early start with a ride downhill of about 3 km to Mitterteich. Ah..... the bread and cakes in the bakeries.

 After a coffee stop and a walk around ( and I bought a jumper) it was off on the bikes again about 8 km to the amazing town of Waldsassen with its Basilica. A stop off at tourist information and it turns out the town's twinned with Pencoed!! The library in the cloisters included a talk (in German) but with English printed info. Wonderful.

 

Another church 3 km uphill past 15 religious icons included a ride through the forest.

And we came out to see this:

About 20 km cycled but there was an awful lot of up on the way back. I nearly had a few heart attacks and had to get off and push a few times but Mart despite his cold never seemed even to breath heavy. 

Day 15 Grossbuchlberg

We've crossed back into Germany.  Some motorway driving but then on Czech country roads through small villages before we crossed the border. It was very pretty but noticeably changed when we got to Germany to be more wealthy looking.

Checked in for a few nights at a very nice terraced site with lovely views and a very warm heated swimming pool. Sian and Paul you'd hate it!