Neue Krug - Thale, 100 km, 6.8.

Meanwhile we have returned from the Romantic Road and the Lake Constance and that report is written, designed and pictures included. But there are still some undevelopped pictures on the uncompleted film in the camera. So the solution to this dilemma is another section, the third one, of the Harz circuit.

The strategy will be to start like at the first time once again at Hahausen/Neue Krug and head east as far as possible. There is a train connection from the far east at Aschersleben to Goslar and this can be used to come back. This time I enter the bike at 7 am, very early again. Most of the section ahead is already known from our last year trip which ended in Poland. We had tried to cycle along the R1, identical with the Harz circuit at this region. It was very hard work with the loaden bikes and we soon gave it up. So I urgently want to know all about the real path now (There is a discussion about the Harz circuit, that this may be no real promotion for a family bike tour...).

After the first kilometers along the woods the path forks, and as the brochure tells, one branch is sporty and the other is more sporty. The easier route has four simple uphill arrows and four arrows for more serious ascents on the route to Goslar. The more strenuous track has 10 simple and 11 steep ascents. Sure, I choose the more sporty option, and this will be a circuit around the village Wolfshagen. My average speed is less than 10 km/h due to the uphills. Up above of Langelsheim there is a fine route on a former railway track. But the R1 cyclist is soon called to leave the asphalt and has to overcome two double arrows on the map.

Hayreck Wolfshagen

While I push up the path I see a romantic hayreck for the deer, covered with full green moss. Though it is rather dark yet I try a photo.

Soon I reach a light meadow with some trees and than have to ride down again to a parking site and a restaurant named Schäder Baude. There is a signed walk: Around the Shäder. And nearby you can find the Schäder Pavillon. Yes you are right: Schäder is the name of the mountain above all. There is a nice outlook to the village Wolfshagen. Up and down again until we reach the tarmac path around the Granestausee (water resort). I know people who come on warm summer evenings from Braunschweig to this place to absolve some training rounds on their bikes. I enjoy this momentary plane road as well. The dam is crossed, the wind is rough but blows from behind.

Rammelsberg Goslar

We ride down to the town of Goslar and find ourselves near the famous Kaiserpfalz. There is a historical and picturesque old town, all together is awarded as Weltkulturerbe (World Heritage Site). If one has never been there he should have time for a visit. For my own I have to climb up to the Maltermeisterturm at 400m height beneath the Rammelsberg. The Rammelsberg ore mines have been more than 1000 years under operation, but as it is in present times were closed some years ago and now are a museum. We pass a meadow slope which is a favorite training area of the hang gliders. There is a nice view of the skyline of Goslar as well. Then we fly down to the valley of the Oker. The bridge is named "Messingbrücke"  (Brass Bridge) and continues as "Messingstrasse". Guess where they have digged for brass in the Harz area.

Langenberg Pond Benzingerode

Now I have to climb up a staircase! Without baggage this is no problem. Similar to a railwaystation with the underpasses. Then there is an outlook to the geological sensation of this region, the "Geologischer Aufschluss Langenberg" (geological outcrop). This is said to be like an open book of geological layers and formations. Thereafter we surround the town of Harzburg, cross the Horse Racecourse first and in the suburb Bündheim have a nice view to the Brocken which peers through a gap aside the Burgberg. There is one special spot for this only, and if you will search for it: it is just before the railway bridge

We pass the hamlet Westerode and meet a nice meadow landscape "Am Butterberg". This geologic origin is interesting too, for it looks like a big slice which was pressed upside. Up on the ridge there is a wind wheel, which is older than all the modern new built "wind parks". The path now disappears in the forest and this section is somewhat boring. Then we reach the river Ecker and this was the former German border. There is a refuge, table and bench now, but some people sit already and I head on. Interesting impressions at Ilsenburg: at the Blochauer Brücke there seems the sign of the witch to hint in 5 various directions, one of it a staircase. Last year we denied the staircase, and that was wrong. The staircase is the real cycle path and ends at an old building named "Schlosshotel Ilsenburg". In the courtyard there are some chairs and tables and a picturesque old chapel.

I am surprised to be still on the right path. There is an idyllic pond in the forest and above Darlingerode there are hedges and garden sites. We pass the northern part of the watershed Weser - Elbe. In addition there is a geologic fault somewhere, as to be read on a sign again. Down a nice valley along fishponds we reach Wernigerode. This town follows Goslar as well as possible concerning the restauration of half timbered houses. We enter the centre of the town through a wall gate.  Just then a group of tourists comes along: "Where is the railwaystation, please?" in Saxonian dialect. I suppose they will go to the Brocken with the Harzquerbahn.

Ilsenburg Castle in Wernigerode

The market is full of chairs and tables of the open air restaurants. I stroll along the back lanes and admire the complete phalanx of half-timbered houses. Remember the town of Stolberg which was described in the preceding chapter. I look for the cycling witch again and find my way behind the Lustgarten.

Not far away is the romantic palace, known from the advertising of Hasseröder Beer. We resist of a visit today, this will be done on the occasion of our works outing, which happens to occur just one day later.

I stop and turn the sheet with the tour-map of my brochure. Suddenly I hear a voice from above: "Just go ahead". There is a woman cleaning the windows up in a building. "I just want to see how far to go" I give to reply. "To Blankenburg?" she asks back. "No to Aschersleben". "Oh je...!" and the dialogue is finished.But on the continuation we also can observe the other side of Wernigerode with the ugly DDR-Plattenbauten. Another site looks like a parish fair area from a distance. And there are colorful flags and advertisings, white industrial buildings and super markets. This is to be found everywhere in the newer and older Germany: a industrial and shopping center just out of the town, only reachable by car.

Wernigerode Castle Wernigerode

Some kilometres ahead there is another party. I once hear a nice trumpet music from a meadow with lots of horse carriages. But I don't bother and head on. So I climb the path up to the natural reservate Struvenberg with music from behind. There is a geological nature trail with signs and descriptions of peculiarities of the geology in the Harz. The title is "400 Million Years of Earth's History". There are fountains, faults, sediments to be seen. At one spot there is an outcrop with steep layers of rock which are formed by the mountain pressure.

At the next cultural aspect we hit on the Road of Romanik. We just have the cloister of Michaelstein at this place. Last year I made a photo of the portal and that was nice. This time this is not so recommendable because someone has deposited a heap of bulky refuse just aside the portal. Some time later I hit on a brand new building complex with much elegance and promenades under glass. I think this is the REHA-hospital Teufelsbad. Within the village Oesig I loose the cycling witch again and I reach Blankenburg on the road. In front of the impressive city hall I am right again. At some distance uphill there must be a castle. I look at the map and seek the witch. Eventually I find her at the next pile.

We head to an estate located on a hill and then down to the village Cattenstedt. In spite of the fine road the path soon leads into muddy tracks in the woods. This time I want to roll comfortably for a while and so stay on the road until Thale. I start to calculate now. We have 3 pm, so I made 100 km in 8 hours. The distance to Aschersleben is 30 km, this will last 2 hours (with tailwind). The train back to Goslar will go at 5.25 pm. So things could work well. When I reach Ballenstedt we have 18 km yet, some time later 12 km. The tailwind works well, I have sometimes more than 30 km/h on the speedometer. But the traffic on the mainroad B 185 is dense and this is not so fine. Just at 5 pm I arrive at Aschersleben, twin town of Peine. The main color is grey here, but there is a brand new building, a dream of glass. It is the administration of the district.

We have time enough to have a glance to the centre and find the "Altstadt Center" - everything built brand new inclusive a modern hotel. I am sure there were old houses at this place which had to give way to the mighty investors. After some time I find two or so small lanes near the Stephanikirche. There are some old uninhabited houses in decay. I wonder if they will restaurate them. (Frome the Internet page of Aschersleben one can find some ancient relicts along the former town wall).

I return by train and for the first time use the new connection Wernigerode - Vienenburg. From Goslar I must cycle back to my car and so at last proudly have made 150 km this day. And I had no rain all over the day except for the very last km.