It’s Peter and Paul’s Day… a good occasion to travel and remember early Christianity along the Baltic Sea Coast. Why not visit Berlin’s nearest Peter&Paul’s Church. Traveling on a well known  bicycle named Sickboy the journey will require two days to reach Szczecin’s Peter&Paul’s and to say a little prayer for Otto the Holy Crusadar and Slayer of Pommerian. And …. starting today after breakfast means to arrive right in time for Otto’s saint’s day, which is June 30th.

Start und Ziellinie unserer Reise nach Szczecin ….

… happily cycling along the Panke River, passing the old safe factory and go further North East…

…whistling a li’l tune while passing the old Nazi Watchtower …

… aand finally: that’s how Berlin looks from the outside. Empty space starts here.

Many immigrants from Netherland and France were invited by the Prussian Kings to change a farmer’s nation into a industrial and hightech society. They built bridges and channels and windmills and brought a weird sport, which’s still practiced in some remote areas: „Billiardkegeln“.

Only Germans can build a place like that in the middle of nowhere. The two Schiffshebewerks in Niederfinow. They link Szczecin’s coal harbour to Berlin’s power plants.

The Fontane family were immigrants from France. While Theodor became Prussian’s most popular writer his father moved out of Berlin to Schiffsmühlen. The first years Theodor crossed the river on board off an old fisherboat ferry. Later a bridge was built and the writer arrived on the horse coach carriage.

Every time Theodor was on his way old Fonty waited at the bridgehouse for the carriage to arrive. Parents waiting for their son on the other end of the bridge… a nice story Fontane used in his ballad „Die Brück am Tay“. Auf der Norderseite, das Brückenhaus — Alle Fenster sehen nach Süden aus, Und die Brücknersleut’ ohne Rast und Ruh Und in Bangen sehen nach Süden zu, Sehen und warten, ob nicht ein Licht Übers Wasser hin »Ich komme« spricht, »Ich komme, trotz Nacht und Sturmesflug, Ich, der Edinburger Zug.«

Blümchen an der Oder

Reached the River at around six o’clock in the evening. From here on the Sickboy will take me Northward along the water. Street sign says 96 Kilometer to Szczecin. Half way is allmost done.

I stayed the night in Ceydina. On the web are a number of hotels and B’n’Bs around here. Believe me please…. food and sleep are better on the Eastern side of the river.

Behind Ceydina Sickboy took me through the hills and the shadows and the woods. Ceydina to Schwedt is the most beautiful cycle route one can find around Berlin.

Zatoń Dolna …. national park for birds I can name in German only: Graureiher, Störche, Enten, Krähen, Kraniche, Amseln, Falken, Raben, Schwäne, ein Seeadler, Kormorane, Schwalben, Stare, &c

In the grave hill of Staffelde lies a Earl buried, covered by a huge treasure. There is more gold, gemstones, stock market shares and weapons, than the people of his kingdom can carry away. His will is to unearth his heritage and use it to rebuilt his kingdom in case it is being destroyed by war, fire, flooding, Griffin invasion or crusaders.

The Earls of Szczecin were protected by the mystic Griffin. Their Castle is overlooking harbour, river and city.

Szczecin harbour

Szczecin is well known for it’s sailors and fishermen and tea culture 🙂 …

… and for it’s splendid fountain. For centuries a place to meet travellors, cyclists and friends.

Angekommen…. der heilige Otto von Bamberg zog während der Kreuzzüge mit seinem Heer nach Szczecin. Er ließ die Tempel der slawischen Götter zerstören und die Peter&Paul Kirche bauen. Doch die Götter sind wütend und so brennt die Peter&Paul Kirche alle einhundert Jahre nieder. Hier irgendwo liegt der Schatz des Herzogs von Staffelde und wartet darauf die alten Herrscher und ihre Götter zurück auf den Thron zu bringen.

Thanks to MISTER “Ninety miles an hour, girl, is the speed I drive” SICKBOY!!!