itsmylife: I've barely arrived and Germany's having a go at me!!

Thursday late evening, I'd posted the blog and had a last look out of the window

Red sky at night and all that; it had the makings of a fine day for Friday.

Friday 29th, All packed up but before heading to the border I wanted to have a look at a couple of old Prussian forts which my route brought me past the previous evening but the light was too dim for taking photos. It would also give me a chance to see what is reputed to be the best beach in this northern corner of Poland.

Booking.com got me a very cheap room here!!

Some sand castle!

Nice big beach but the Baltic breeze is keeping the crowds at bay. Germany in the distance.

Lots of underground bunkers and gun emplacements overlooking the mouth of the River Swina.

A lot of elderly folk on coach holidays across from Germany taking advantage of the cheap prices that Poland offers.

Five kilometres up the road I ride past a red and white painted concrete post and that's it, Germany.

Guide book stowed away, my "Ride the Baltic" bit finished at the border. I'm in Seebad Heringsdorf and about to harass the staff in the tourist office for local maps showing cycle routes. I've got a rough outline of where I'm aiming for but need some detailed information showing routes which will keep me away from the busiest roads; they also did some phoning around and found me a great little B&B which was on my route for the following day. The place was supposed to be self catering, bed only but the lady obviously took pity on me, she fussed around making sure I was happy about where my bike would be locked up and then while I was taking my bags to my room proceeded to put a garden table and recliner chair into the sunshine and brought me a big cup of coffee!

Five minutes later she came trotting back saying breakfast would be at 0900 and if it was sunny it would be in the garden otherwise in my room! She also produced a piece of amber for a souvenir to take back to Scotland!! Apparently her husband often found pieces of amber on the beach when he went fishing.

Saturday 30th and I could hear the rain spattering against the window. I wasn't looking forward to starting off in the wet but by the time I was packed and breakfasted the sky had cleared and the sun was breaking through.

My plan for the day was to ride up the east coast cycle trail of a peninsular ending at Peenemunde. Peenemunde was where the V1 and V2 flying bombs were developed, and back down the west side trail crossing the Peenestrom into Wolgast.

The cycle trail was mostly great, hard packed surface through the woods and paved through the numerous small seaside placed dotted along the coast. The skies darkened and the first fat splats of rain were bouncing off my bike helmet; I pulled under the trees and started putting my waterproofs on, the rain got a bit heavier and the first flash of lightening split the sky. Within ten minutes it was all over, sun shining and the ground steaming in the heat.

A look over to the west and the next squall was already starting to build up. Ah well, plod on.

A glimpse through the trees of an almost deserted beach near Koserow.

Yep, the next downpour and it was hail, cold and painful as it bounced off my scalp through the air vents in my helmet!!

Nicely thatched holiday homes.

A new complex of properties going up and all thatched!

Another few kilometres and I was in Peenemunde.

The complex was comprised of workshops, a large power station and launch test areas.

The V1 (Doodlebug). The ramp in front of the train is part of an original launch system. The train was used to bring slave workers from a camp at Karlshagen a few kilometres away.