Day 7 - Boats and Bikes

We live on a river, and of course there are lots of boats that ply the waters - huge container ships, barges carrying coal or grain, pleasure boats and ferries that go across the river or up and down.  All in all, a busy place.

Wednesday - a week already! - we opted for a down-the-river boat ride to Brake and planned to bike back as far as we felt like biking.  Always take it by ear.  Or seat.

This was the earliest we'd got up and out since the kids got here (except for the aberrant morning Hunter woke up at 6, took a shower, and sat watching a movie till the rest of us appeared).  Good grief, on the bikes and at the dock at 9:30!

The Oceana showed up right on time and we loaded up for the hour plus ride to Brake.  The weather was perfect - dry, just warm enough, and a few white clouds.  Hunter's become attached to Werner's sweatshirt since Day 2 even though Hunter's shampoo-soaked one has been ready to use again since then.  I'll have to remember to get it back before he packs to leave!

Brake of course has lots of maritime history and the first evidence of it was the HUGE anchor at the harbor.  Attempting to move it proved futile.

I'd read about the Maritime Museum but didn't really have much hope of a visit, but they happened to have a Technical Art exhibit - mechanical devices done as art - that interested the kids.  (Once again, no pictures allowed!)  But it was great fun to look at the weird and wonderful devices he'd dreamed up, including a Bremen Town Musicians "sculpture" that moved and wiggled.  Of course, we looked at the Maritime exhibit too and in the museum shop, they found ship whistles and key rings to buy.

Finally, off on the bikes!  Thoughts of getting to Elsfleth for lunch were a dream - we only got about 7K down the road before the hunger monster grabbed the kids and we were lucky to find a little restaurant along the river - chicken nuggets, Bratwurst, fries.  Perfect.

Then on up the river along the dikes, more sheep, more charming houses, more fields of daisies and poppies and buttercups.

The path crossing another river was an extension of the railroad trestle.  NARROW.  Hunter was really disappointed that a train didn't rumble pass when we were on the bridge.  I was definitely NOT disappointed!

Last year, Kenley, H+H had a fun time at a little playground at a camping place and H+H wanted to visit it again.  No problem - it was on the way.

Then negotiations.  Take the train back or bike?  The timing was a little off.  We had just missed the train from Farge and the next would be 30 minutes later which was about the time it would take to get home by bike.  So about 30K and 7 hours later, we arrived home.  Quite a day!!