From Fürstenau to Hamburg and then to the Elbe River

Shortly after eight this morning, the long-awaited news arrives. The VW dealership Schröer, just around the corner, calls. - Our drive shaft has been delivered. So we pack up quickly and are on site shortly afterwards. - The team at the dealership is friendly and thoroughly committed. But you can also tell that our bus is not the kind of thing that comes in here every day. They quickly whip out their cell phones and start taking pictures. We take it in our stride, but the master is shocked and ends the photo session abruptly. So it's off to work. But the installation takes much longer than the removal. But we've waited two days, so what's a few hours? - Shortly after midday, the time has come. Whether VW will shrug off the warranty remains to be seen.

So we could set off if it weren't for our hunger. So we pay a quick visit to the local bakery and butcher in Fürstenau. Suitably fortified, we then set off northwards. Today we are heading for the Hanseatic city of Hamburg.

But first, it's another ½ hour overland from Fürstenau. Fields and meadows line our path. "Lots of countryside here" - Every now and then we see signposts pointing to the Megalithic Road. And suddenly, at the edge of a country lane, I think I see such a collection of stones. Here in the north of the Osnabrück region, north-east of Bippen, there is an unusual stone formation between the forest and the field. I brake and reverse and yes, I have seen correctly. I turn off onto the dirt track and stop. We are standing in front of one of the two Hekese megalithic tombs. Two approximately four thousand year old graves, which were used as collective graves and are connected by a row of small stones.

The burial chambers are particularly impressive due to their sheer size of around 20 meters.

As the burial chambers date back to the Neolithic period, they must be at least 5000 years old. I am always impressed by what these people were capable of despite their limited resources. Some of these rocks weigh several tons. If you are in the area, you should definitely pay a visit to these tombs.

Für uns geht es weiter Richtung Hamburg. – Wollen wir hier doch das Nützliche mit dem Angenehmen verbinden. – Was verbindet ihr mit dem Tor zur Welt? Ich finde die altdeutsche Bezeichnung „Friee un Hansestadt Hamborg“ sagt doch schon alles. „Frei und Hanse“ – Torgit und ich sind uns einig. Wenn in Richtung Elbtunnel der Stadtteil Waltershof, mit seinen Hafen- und Industrieanlagen in Sicht kommt, löst dies ähnlich viel Emotionen aus, wie wenn wir nach einer langen Reise über die Kölner Südbrücke fahren und zur Rechten der Dom auftaucht. Doch während in Köln Heimatgefühle hervorbrechen, sind es in Hamburg ganz anders Gefühle. Ich kann es am Besten mit den Worten von Purple Schulz ausdrücken:

„Homesickness, Wanderlust, Longing, Ich weiß nicht, was es ist“

Gibt es überhaupt jemand, den Hamburg kalt lässt? Was fühlst Du? – Hamburg hat viele schöne Stadtteile, doch uns zieht es vor allem immer wieder an die Elbe. Egal, ob es heißt auf zum Fischmarkt, ein Fischbrötchen an den Landungsbrücken, ein Spaziergang durch die Hafencity, mit Blick auf die Elbphilharmonie oder einfach an der Strandperle sitzen und „dumm auf’s Wasser glotzen“. Eines ist schöner als das Andere.

But when we arrive in Hamburg, we first pay a visit to the Covers Shop for a visit. The guys not only make great custom-made covers (we know them from our garden bench) but also waterproof bags, awning fabrics (also for old Bullis) and much more. When I see their sign in production, I'm not sure what else they make. Please don't call me sexist now. The sign hangs in a production facility and is pure motivation. I think it fits in perfectly with Hamburg. 

Everything here is made to measure. And that's exactly what we need. Because we want to have appropriate bags made for our folding e-bikes. We are curious to see if it will work out as expected. Measurements are quickly taken.

So much for the useful - and what about the pleasant? - Of course, we want to pay a visit to the Elbe. So we drive to the banks of the Elbe to a small, cozy beach below a lighthouse, complete with parking lot. As there is no more space available at the nearby campsite, we decide not only to enjoy the sun here, but also to spend the night later. We are rewarded: the sunset over the Elbe and the lighthouse is magnificent.