Tour de Schwarmstedt

Isn't this first picture here just a beaut?! haha

So, for all of you who don't know yet, I've moved from southern Germany to the north. I'm now living in the little village of Schwarmstedt. Population: 6000. Oh yeah. It's a good thing I'm not a big city girl, because Schwarmstedt is not a big city. But I really really like it here - it's cute, quiet and super friendly.

Plus, the surroundings are just fabulous! I'm living in farm country really. Head 5 minutes in any direction and you've hit a field. So I've taken advantage of the fact that I only work 12 hours a week to check out the local bike trails and nordic walking paths. Here's one below - nice and smooth and flat. And you can't see it, but it runs alongside a river too. When the sun's shining, there's nothing more fun than a jaunt in the countryside!



My first day back from my teacher's orientation course I decided to bike to Walsrode visit a new friend. Now, there are a few facts that you should know. First of all, I haven't biked more than 15 minutes ever. Secondly, Walsrode is 25 km away from Schwarmstedt. Thirdly, my bike is stuck on one gear - hard. But I decided all these factors were completely... well they didn't matter.

So off I went to Walsrode. Now it was a fairly leisurely trip - I stopped to take pictures all over the place. But when I finally reached Walsrode after about an hour I was royally pooched! And as I stood on the side of the road pondering the fact that I couldn't feel my legs, was only halfway through the journey, and didn't actually know where my friend lived in Walsrode... I came to the conclusion that I was in waaaaay over my head.

But what could I do? Other than turn around and bike back home, of course. Which is exactly what I did. At a snails pace too, I'm sure. But now I can say, I've sucessfully biked 50km! Go me!



Here's the windmill I passed about 15 minutes into my 2.5 hour journey.

And I also passed through the little town of Gilten about 20 minutes into my journey. The houses here are just incredible. The older ones are like something right out of a story. I have absolutely no idea what we call this style of house in English, but in German it's a "Fachwerk" house.

Well that was trip number one. A couple days later the sun was still shining and I figured it was high time for another excursion - ie. I could feel my legs again. So I grabbed my bike and hopped onto the nordic walking trail. I felt like I was back in Canada in the middle of a forest :)

I just love this picture... Not the most flattering maybe, but an excellent example of what happens when you tinker with the self-timer on a camera. I'm clearly quite puzzled.

Now, I know it said it was a walking trail, but it went through the woods and I wanted to check it out! I soon found out why a bike wasn't a good idea. As you can see below, the trails are all sand. Incredibly difficult on a bike.

So I went back a few days later to walk them. Much more fun - except for the fact that sand got in my shoes and I quickly developed blisters. Shoot.

But it certainly felt good to cool them in the water. I've found a couple beaches near me - the picture below is from Alhden (a town only 12km away). Give me a book and I could sit here all day! Which I did.

My lonesome purse chilling on the beach. See - it proves I was really there!

This next picture is me having "assumed the position" as my mom likes to say. After soaking my blisters, I sat on down and started reading my book. The best part of it all is that this beach is only a 5 minute walk from my house!

Aaahhhh

Back again on another day - I just can't stay away from the water when it's so nice out.

And, just in case you're starting to forget what my face looks like - one last shot in the woods before I say goodbye for now.

Hi all!

And now:

Bye all!