Mike says this sums up the day and there is no reason to write any more. Beginning this morning the day was cold and windy. And, as yesterday, we saw one solitary camel this morning beside the road near our hotel in Gustrow as we retraced part of our route. But we were not too surprised because it was part of a circus outfit and was in a series of pens with two zebras, a giraffe and a few other exotic beasts. So there were the three elements right there. However, within a few miles the rain began and then became heavy and constant. The barley fields and wind turbines quickly became monotonous.
And then........ a slight diversion along the trail. Quite a nice looking home came into view beside the quiet road we were pedalling, and an extremely shiny tractor with a gypsy caravan coupled behind it sat in the driveway, the whole assembly painted in bright primary colours. As we got closer, a small Statue of Liberty wearing a version of an American flag stood in the front garden. Beyond the house were two live camels standing next to two plastic Native American tepees, one bright pink and one green. Lounging next to this scene were several bison and in the background a few wild boar.
It is Sunday in Germany and almost everything is closed but after about twenty kilometers we found a small coffee shop open. As the week goes on we are getting acquainted with more Berlin to Copenhagen cyclists. While we dripped on the floor and drank coffee eight of us commiserated about the foul weather.
The last thirteen miles into Rostock became even more windy, wet and far from enjoyable. As we got blown around in the blustery wind as we cycled, we understood why we were suddenly surrounded by so many wind turbines and why so many more were in the process of being constructed. Both of us had shoes squelchingly filled with water, both of us had every item of clothing soaked through, and both of us were feeling cold as well as soggy. Standing at the hotel's reception desk pools of water collected on the counter and the floor. Mike's attempt to write our home address as we registered was illegible because he couldn't get his hand to function. The drying process began when we got to our room, although even standing in the very hot water of the shower, it was at first difficult to determine whether the water was hot or cold until we thawed out. But this is JULY! This is supposed to be summer!
Showered, clad in dry clothes and without rainfall we walked around to explore the town, deliberately leaving our jackets behind in the room because they were wringing wet. Rostock is the largest city in the Meikelberg state with 20,000. It is an attractive city with a mix of old and new built around a large harbor. But then the rains began again. A quick retreat to the hotel for dinner and the rest of the evening.
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