Day 3: Heidenau - Wewelsburg, 283,5 km

So, back in the saddle. The day started with drizzling rain and me alone up early at the campsite. Germans on vacation seems every bit as lazy as anyone. Not fun having to pack the gear wet, but what to do. Once on the road things got better and eventually I found myself having ideal riding conditions. And the roads! It does take time to go via Bundesweg instead of Autobahn. You are only allowed to go 100 km/h and there are plenty of villages. But in between those the roads are downright marvellous!

Straight out of the woods!

Did a 2,5 hour stint, filled gas in Hameln and continued straight on. Yes I know, should have stayed and looked for the rat-catcher, but the place was full of tourists and you have to make a choice. To stay and look at everything, I'd probably need the rest of my life. Very light lunch and I arrived at 14:30. Day was planned for transport,  but not longer than giving ample time for looking at the castle and museums of Wewelsburg.

Sort of lunch.

For those not knowing, there has been people around since at least 9000 b.c. and the local museum have a very nice exhibition on that, the knights, bishopry and everything else up until 1934.

Castle and drawbridge, without draw...

VIP parking on the courtyard. 

For the rest until today there is a separate museum. The real fame of Wewelsburg lies in the castle being used by the SS and appointed a center of the world (the SS world that is) by Himmler. Cult, indoctrination, concentration camp, forced labour etc etc. You name it, it all was here. Interesting, horrifying, fascinating and extremely hard to grasp emotionally. Some 1850 prisoners died restoring and rebuilding for the master race. Not a lot compared to the larger camps in Poland, yet very many people. Logically I umderstand it took place and I strongly feel it never again must happen! Still the atrocities commited here and elsewhere are just to big to get your head around. I'm glad I've seen it though. Everyone should, this or any other nazi-concentration camp.

Chryptic driving notes for day 4.

Now then, for tomorrow. Plan is Koblenz and then through Moseltal, as far as time allows. Will be a lot of twists and bends as today, but once through it seems to be straighter roads and less villages on the french side. We'll see...