Thursday, September 20: Cloudy very early in the morning, becoming quite fine, clouding over in the evening
Im Grünen
Hiking: 28.5 km
Some delivery truck had arrived with goods for the supermarket @ around 3:00, which briefly woke me. Apart from that I was around the block to breakfast just after 7:30, as I had a bus to catch, or at least order and catch. The proprietor briefly showed me the washing machine, and I returned to my room to try to get a skype call through to the transport agency for today’s bus. The first couple of calls ended in a “busy” message and loop back to the menu. I waited for a bit, then repeated the call and got through. My bus for today was ordered, but the gent on the other end of the line couldn’t give me any details about where to change buses, for that I would have to ask the bus driver himself. With that organised, I packed up all my stuff and went down to the supermarket to replenish a bottle of lemonade.
Straslund ChurchyardThen it was a long march through town. I had chosen the “blue” route (the latest .gpx file that I could find, which Georget – after some sanity checks for simpler files – eventually converted to .kml), which seemed to go down the main road (Frankenwall, Frankendamm, Rostocker Chaussee, where it seemed to join company with the “red” version – which covers all of the German section). Not any signs – even of a cycle track – could be seen and consulted my map to find where to get off, should I otherwise miss the opportunity. Just as that point a sign turned up for the Hansa Path, which was not helpful, and the path I was looking for went through Devin. Just before the hotel a cycle path did appear to join the paths on the map, and this would make sense, if it followed the shoreline right up to the major bridge, which would have been much more pleasant that walking or cycling down the main road. However, that is a speculation for another day. Read more…
Wednesday, September 19: Sunny and warm (not quite as hot as yesterday), persistent land wind, one or two more compact clouds
Im Grünen
Hiking: 29.0 km
Managed to string up two bath towels to cover the light coming through the window in the door, and the main window had a concertina blind on it which kept most of the light out. It was actually pretty quiet after about 10:00 and I got a fairly good night’s sleep, with people beginning to wake up again from about 6:30.
Through the ReedsI went down for breakfast at around 7:30. Pretty much the usual hotel/pension fare. Four bread rolls, a plate of cold meat/cheese and coffee was served. Orange juice was a bottle on every table, there was a central section where apparently cereal, yoghurt and toast could be obtained, and there was a fruit basket mainly full of apples. I settled the bill with the proprietor, asked in advance about the possibility of doing laundry on Thursday afternoon, and proceeded to nab two of the rolls and an apple for lunch. About the only thing I didn’t avail myself of was Bild.
Back in the room the wifi didn’t seem to want to work, and I should have asked about it because it is going to be critical tomorrow in getting a bus to pick me up. Also the one card (the one with a double partition seems to have great difficulty in being recognised by Windows). In any case I had plenty of time to play with, and noticed that I could not find the glasses case anywhere. Just after 9:30 I was ready to go, first via the supermarket to redeem some empties, and then into town for a bit of sightseeing. Found some Greek restaurants down by the harbor, and walked back via the old market square, through an old gateway, and then across a park with ponds in the general direction of the station, and was there with a good ten – or should I say fifteen – minutes to spare, because the bus was accordingly late.
Today’s trip was puzzlingly familiar, as I was expecting it to take a good quarter of an hour more. I had put on the sunscreen, and placed my hat on the pack to do so, and when I saw Hohendorf coming up directly after Prohn, I started the GPS tracker and got ready to get out of the bus. First stop I pushed the button for was Siedlung (a suburb a couple of km down the road) and the bus driver recognised that I had wanted to go a bit further, and the next stop was Hauptstr., where I got on yesterday. Where the remaining fifteen minutes went, no idea. Anyway I was happy to be able to start walking earlier than planned, and in doing so lost the loose hat, which I promptly forgot on the bus, and almost just as promptly regretted not having put on my head.
Two losses in just as many days: Both due to non-standard procedures being applied.
Approaching StralsundAnyway the walk called out to be done. First it was across a couple of fields into the National Park once again, where there was a little more shade. I stopped once for some hydration, and then for lunch in Barhövt with its charming little harbor and hotels and other tourist infrastructure. I continued on the path through the forest for quite a bit before arriving in Klausdorf, then went through town until a map and some signs turned up. According to that map the E9 is identical with the Baltic Sea Cycle Route, and goes directly from Hohendorf to Klausdorf. The only ambiguity (with my choice of track) is whether to go through Klausdorf itself or bypass it to the east. In any case I was soon back down close to the waterfront on quite low-lying dikes, and enjoying the sun. I was expecting some track choices on either side of Parow, but none turned up. What was unhelpful was the varying distance to Stralsund that the signs were giving. In fact, there were no choices at all, and after the apple just before Parow, I was surprised that the distance to Stralsund was less than 6 km, almost directly on the coast itself.
Interactive Map
Back in town. GPS quality: 30/30, coverage: 100% Can’t see map? Click here!
Stralsund in townPlenty of geese on land, sea and in the air today, but not an opportunity to take a picture. A couple of pictures of other things, including Stralsund itself from the water front. I was considering going as far as the bridge today, but decided to go through town instead to see what else I could shoot. Tried to no avail to locate a telephone at the main station. Then some shopping needed to be done at Lidl which required a detour, then back to the pension, where the internet was working again.
After looking around for some eateries I thought that the closest Chinese place (Goldener Drachen, Rostocker Chaussee 2) would be the deal for this evening, if I am feeling up to it, there is an Indian place not far from the bus station that I could try tomorrow. Pork fried rice was a little more expensive than I’ve been used to (€11.3), but it was very tasty.
The plan for tomorrow will be: Try the internet first thing tomorrow after breakfast to see if I can skype the bus place for tomorrow’s return trip. If it is not working here, then go down to the supermarket to redeem empties and buy new stuff for hydration, and try the network there. Also I will need to get the address of the place I am staying with as well. Should look to leaving on the hike at before 9:00.
