After spending the night in Berlin, I took the S-Bahn to Strausberg, about 40 kilometres from the city centre. The journey took roughly an hour. The cycling trip began in Strausberg. While planning the route, I had noticed a cross-border cycle path on the map, running along a former railway line. On the German side, I first had to cross Brandenburg. The hilly landscape gives way to the flat Oderbruch. I crossed the Oder on the Neurüdnitz–Siekierki European Bridge, then continued through Poland on the very well-paved R20 cycle route. I spent my first night in a holiday cottage in Góralice (Görlsdorf), a small village.
That was where the cycle path ended for me. When planning the route, I had avoided major, busy roads and opted for quieter roads instead. I also wanted to pass a few lakes. As a result, the road surfaces were rather poor in places, with some gravel tracks and cobblestones. My next overnight stop was Stargard (Stargard in Pomerania). I was even able to ride into the city on a good cycle path. Stargard was largely destroyed during the Second World War. Although a few historic buildings remain in the city centre, most of it consists of post-war buildings.
The next day, I planned a longer ride through a mostly rural area of small villages, forests and lakes. Unfortunately, I got a flat tyre about halfway along and could not repair it properly. Punctures continued to plague me until the end of the trip. Fortunately, I was able to take the train to my next overnight stop, Złocieniec (Falkenburg in Pomerania).
Złocieniec still has a fair number of historic buildings from the German period. Unfortunately, most of the old buildings are in very poor condition. Overall, the town feels rather poor and run-down.
Photos for Part 1
Taking the S-Bahn from Berlin to StrausbergVillage houses in the Oderbruch near KunersdorfFields and rows of trees near KunersdorfKunersdorfOderbruchbahn cycle route on a former railway line, beyond WriezenThe Oderbruch landscapeBridge across the Oder into Poland, for pedestrians and cyclists onlyCycle path towards the OderView across the Oder – Siekierki (Zäckerick)Floodplain on the Oder and the route of the former railway line – Siekierki (Zäckerick)Wet meadows in the Oder floodplain – Żelichów KoloniaCycle path along the former railway line through the forest near Siekierki (Zäckerick)Former railway station building beside the cycle path – Klępicz (Klöpzig)Meadows and fields along the route – WitniczkaGóralice (Görlsdorf)Góralice (Görlsdorf)Forest track among the pines – Góralice (Görlsdorf)Gravel road through fields and meadows – Góralice (Görlsdorf)Gravel road between fields near Góralice (Görlsdorf)Flowering meadow near Żabów (Sabow)Brick church in the village – Żabów (Sabow)View across the lake – Wierzbno (Werben)Unpaved farm track through the grain fields – OkunicaPark avenue with a view of the manor house – Koszewo (Kossow)The medieval Pyritz Gate and town wall – Stargard (Stargard in Pomerania)Old Town street with a view of St Mary's Church in Stargard (Stargard in Pomerania)Historic gabled houses on the market square – Stargard (Stargard in Pomerania)Church and historic houses on the market square – Stargard (Stargard in Pomerania)Brick Gothic architecture in the Old Town – Stargard (Stargard in Pomerania)Historic houses with arcades in Stargard (Stargard in Pomerania)Post-war buildings in the city centre – Stargard (Stargard in Pomerania)Street lined with post-war buildings – Stargard (Stargard in Pomerania)Village street – Pęzino (Pansin)Church in Marianowo (Marienfließ)Historic brick monastery building – Marianowo (Marienfließ)Rural village scene with pastureland – Marianowo (Marienfließ)Brick church rising above the rooftops – Chociwel (Freienwalde in Pomerania)Regional train at the station – Chociwel (Freienwalde in Pomerania)Bicycles on the regional train – Chociwel (Freienwalde in Pomerania)View of the city centre and its post-war buildings – Złocieniec (Falkenburg in Pomerania)Street on the edge of town with apartment blocks – Złocieniec (Falkenburg in Pomerania)Brick church in the evening light – Złocieniec (Falkenburg in Pomerania)Historic townhouse in the Old Town – Złocieniec (Falkenburg in Pomerania)
