The Duke of Kendal Rides Again!

Thursday 26th September 2024. Bear Necessities Month.

Rinteln to Osnabruck – 96km.

I have become accustomed to special treatment over the last couple of days and so I am assuming the vacant title of ‘Duke of Kendal’….but before I start taking on too many ‘aires and graces’, I have the small matter of completing my cycling journey. Today I was headed to Osnabruck. I had been keeping a close eye on the predicted rain forecast and held back my start till just after 9am. Overall, apart from one heavy shower, when I stopped for a coffee, I was fortunate to stay dry.

I was back to my own company and travelling with the ‘simple bear necessities’ in my bags. I had ‘forgotten about my worries and my strifes’! ‘Wherever I wander, wherever I roam’ I always value the ‘bear necessities of life’! Is that enough of the ‘Jungle Book’ song? I think so. It is a great favourite of my childhood. I’m not sure why Bear Necessities gets a whole month rather than a day or a week but I suspect it’s more about Bear welfare than the Jungle Book.

Moving on, I wanted to push on a little towards my destination but I very much enjoyed the first part of the ride along the river Weser.

There weren’t any particularly notable towns along the way but I can certainly sing the praises of the River Weser route. There is a marked cycleway all along the rivers length to the North Sea. It’s a possible route for the future.

Osnabruck has had a see-saw history of being controlled by various different powers over the centuries, Swedish, Hannoveran, Prussian and French as well as been its own Electorate within the Holy Roman Empire. It was badly bombed by the Allies in the Second World War and the Altstadt has been largely rebuilt to be faithful to its original condition.

As you can see from the photos I was fortunate to get a little sunshine when I arrived.

I didn’t mention that after the war Osnabruck was home to the largest British Army garrison outside the UK. It was closed in 2008 but certainly the city has had a long association with Britain.

When I planned the route I had low expectations of the city but it certainly has its good features. I wouldn’t say it is ‘German quaint’ but it has a good pedestrian centre and plenty of authentic looking buildings.

My current necessities involve having a night off Duchal duties, having an easy meal and a good sleep before I cycle into The Netherlands tomorrow.