Krakow am See next

Rostock and Krakow am See

September 6

I oversleep until a quarter past eight, so I have to rush to pack up. Most of the work is already done, but there are always a few odds and ends to stow away in my bags and panniers.

Yesterday afternoon, I brought my bike up to my room; once all the bags were attached, I took the elevator down to the ground floor and locked the bike in a somewhat secluded spot.
Then I head down to breakfast, but the dining room is packed. I manage to find a seat in an adjoining room. I help myself to the treats and set a little extra aside in my cooler bag for later.

I check out, and by ten o’clock, I’m on my bike heading toward Krakow am See. Getting out of the city is easy. Traffic is light and there aren’t many people about; it’s Sunday, and Germans tend to take it easy then—the Catholic Church seems to have some influence.

The ride goes as expected, with quite a few small hills to tackle. The landscape is beautiful—lots of farmland, cows, and horses. The bike paths are excellent. I arrive in Schwaan, a charming little town that I ride through. I stop at a café to buy coffee and a jam-filled pastry.

I stay for a good half-hour before setting off for Güstrow. I’ve avoided the main roads—both for safety and for the sake of the experience.

I arrive in Güstrow around noon; it’s another small town, and like the other communities I’ve passed through, there are few people out and about.

It’s quite common in Germany for towns to have cobblestone streets—not the usual square ones, but large, round stones. Thank goodness it’s dry outside; otherwise, cycling over these would have been a bit risky.

I stop in the middle of the town in front of a large, beautiful cathedral. A pub next door catches my eye.
I order a beer and initially sit outside in the sunshine, but the Wi-Fi doesn’t work outdoors, so I move inside.

Half an hour later, I roll out of Güstrow, feeling quite content. The next stop is Krakow am See, 22 km to the south. I’ve checked that there’s supposed to be a campsite there.

Getting there is no problem; the weather is good, the scenery beautiful, and the traffic light. I arrive just after 5 PM and head down to the lake—a beautiful area that also seems popular with the locals.

After fifteen minutes, I cycle towards Charlottenthal and turn right when the campsite sign appears.

It’s a medium-sized campsite with plenty of motorhomes. I pay at a machine since the service office and reception are closed.

I’m assigned a spot surrounded by a large green lawn, bordered by green trees.

After pitching the tent, it’s time to sort out dinner. I grab my gear and head to an area with tables and chairs. After dinner, I try to get online, but the connection is poor.

Just after 10 PM, I’m lying in my Marmot sleeping bag, listening to the “USA-podden” podcast.

Talk soon,
// P-G
The Global Cyclist