Mission Complete!

Thanks all for contributing to my Elberadweg challenge!  I have been informed by Save the Rhino International that the funds raised will go directly to the rangers in Hluwluhe-iMofolozi Park in Zululand, SA, to re-equip the mounted unit with new saddles, brushes and tack, which they sent a request for earlier this year. So, in a way, I can say I worked my ass off in the saddle so the rangers don't go raw in theirs!

1242 kilometers were cycled in 15 days, somewhat ruining my intended average, but a slight pain in my left knee made me take the stages cautiously. I was happy to spend some hours each day soaking in the nature and the culture too! The northern stages were made from April 12 to 14, 2013, leaving Hamburg going North on the right bank to Cuxhaven and returning on the left bank. The southern stages began on April 23, arriving in Prague on May 5. There was a one day stop in Dresden for rest and bike repairs, and two days in Prague for beer drinking as a form of reward. The weather held out for the most part, overcast and windy half the time. I had one day (through Magdeburg) in which the rain did not stop for a single second. At least three days of wonderful warm sunshine and t-shirt cycling in late-April led to some badly scorched wrists.

 

Here is a look at the stages and distances:

 

Day 1 - Wedel- Hetlingen - Altendeich - Seestermühe - Elmshorn - Fleien - Kollmar - Glückstadt (ferry) - Wischhafen - Hemmoor - Wingst - 112km

Day 2 - Cuxhaven - Kugelbake - Otterndorf - Neuhaus(Oste) - Cadenberge - Wingst - 55km

Day 3 - Wingst - Oberndorf - Osten - Großenwörden - Himmelpforten (Hammah) - Stade - Grünendeich - Jork - Cranz Finkenwerder (ferry) - Hamburg (Ottensen) - 84km

Day 4 - HH-Ottensen - HH-Moorfleet - Lütjenburg - Zollenspieker (ferry) - Stove - Tespe - Lauenburg - 76km

Day 5 - Lauenburg - (crossing into former East) - Boizenburg - Neu Bleckede (ferry) - Bleckede - Neu Darchau - Hitzacker - 69km

Day 6 - Hitzacker (Süd route) - Gorleben - Schweden Schanze - Schnackenburg (ferry) - Wittenberge - Storchendorf Rühstadt - 88km

Day 7 - Storchendorf Rühstädt - Havelburg - Sandau - Schönhausen - Tangermünde - 83km

Day 8 - Tangermünde - Kehnert - Rogätz - Wasserstrassenkreuz Mittelkanal - Magdeburg - 97km

Day 9 - Magdeburg - Elbenau - Dornburg - Steckby - Aken (ferry) - Dessau/Roßlau - 88km

Day 10 - Dessau/Roßlau - Würlitz – Coswig (ferry) - Lutherstadt Wittenberg - 48km (knee injury)

Day 11 - Lutherstadt Wittenberg - Elster - Klöden - Pretszch - Dommitzsch - Welsau - Torgau - Belgern - 94km

Day 12 - Belgern - Riesa - Meißen - Dresden - 95km (ball bearings shatter in left pedal, need replacing)

Day 13 - Dresden - Pirna - Königstein - Schöna - Dēčín - 95km

Day 14 - Dėčín - Ústí nad Labem - Litomėrice - Roudnice nad Labem - Mėlnik - 99km

Day 15 - Mėlník - Lužec (ferry) - Kralupy - Rež - Troja - Prague - 67km