Tuesday 27th July - Leeuwarden to Leer

Day 2 : Leeuwarden to Leer

Distance = 94.98 miles
Time = 6 hrs 57 mins
Average Speed = 13.6 mph
Elevation = 696 feet
Calories = 4418

Tour Distance = 198 miles Time = 15hrs 34 mins Calories = 8048

Leaving leeuwarden it was a fast straight ride to Groningen  following the N355 on a cycle path alongside the road.Groningen was very busy on a market day and the signage of the cycle routes was very good but only signed local villages which didnt help much when I was looking for 'Germany' - anyway having navigated through Groningen with a few difficulties I headed further east and was very surprised whilst cycling alongside a large canal to suddenly see a shipyard with a ship on the stocks adjacent to the canal and road - I cant imagine how they get it in the water. Then I passed a huge loating crane called Triton which I think may even have been the one I watched drop the Millenium Bridge in place over the river Tyne in Newcastle 10 years ago. I continueed on past Sappemeer and when I reached Schemda I diverted slightly north to see the Oldambtmeer lake which turned out to be a pleasant inland lake with sandy beaches and promenades alongside it. I then headed to Nieuweschans were I left Holland and slipped into Germaany going through Weener before crossing the River Ems and into the town of Leer - a further 5 miles east of Leer was my hotel for the night the Hotel Waldkur which was very good with free calls to the UK - the guy on reception recommended a nearby pub 1 mile through the forest called Um Grunen Hof - where I had a very good meal and several large beers in a very nice outside patio area.



Day 2 Photographs

Leeuwarden

The little village of Twizel on the road to Groningen

Some radio telecopes I passed on the road to groningen just near Burum

Big barges on the Hoendiep Noordzidje canal just west of Zuidhorn

Windmill near Zuidhorn

An old chimney on the western outskirts of Groningen

Groningen Centre.

The Triton floating crane on the canal near Westerbroek.

Shipyard at Westerbroek

A closer look at the ship on the stocks at the shipyard

Yours truly just near Scheemda

Nice sandy beach and play area by the lake Oldambtmeer

Germany - a very understated border - this was the only sign I could find to tell me I had eneterd Germany

This is me again - this time crossing the River Ems.

An ornate sundial in Leer