Where’s the Gate?

Wednesday 18th September 2024. No Beer Day.

Berlin to Brandenburg am der Havel – 82km.

Janice and I parted company on the railway platform in Berlin. I waved my handkerchief as the train left the platform. The billowing train smoke must have made my eyes water! It sounds a bit like the film, ‘Brief Encounter’. We have had such a great city break. It is strange to start cycling again.

Fortunately the weather is still looking good for the next few days. I cycled out through the ‘Brandenburg Gate’ and then cut through some Berlin leafy suburbs which meant that I saw something different, rather than just retracing the route I came in on.

I got to Potsdam for coffee time and cycled through the ‘Brandenburg Gate’.

My route now was definitely new territory. My general direction from now on will be westwards. I stopped for an ice cream and chatted to Diethelm, a German touring cyclist who had been in the military for 30 years and now retired. He was a nice guy and we cycled together into Brandenburg.

I was shocked to find that Brandenburg am der Havel doesn’t have a Gate! Why not! Everywhere else seems to have a Brandenburg Gate except for Brandenburg. Nevermind, it is a pretty town that seems to straddle various waterways, notably the Havel River.

I did my normal thing….found my accommodation, showered and then set off to explore. It has a several churches and some nice features in the old and new towns.

Brandenburg was the primary seat of power in the region (and in Prussia) till 1715. The but it lost the Electors court to Potsdam and then later to Berlin. In the Second World War it has the dubious honour of being the place they perfected ‘gassing’ people when they euthanised up to 9,000 psychiatric patients of all ages.

I had a quiet evening. I have invented ‘No Beer Day’ because today I have abstained. It’s a nasty habit….but I do like it!

Today’s ride has been fairly easy, maybe because I was fresh again. It is a real pleasure to ride in these lovely temperatures and where there seems always to be a dedicated cycle path alongside the roads.

I am trying to think of new blog material as I’m riding. It isn’t as easy as it seems. I have to take extra help to get inspiration….

Tomorrow I will revisit the Elbe River at Magdeburg. I am informed it is the birthplace of composer Telemann. I need to listen to some Classical music to get up to speed on him.