15.05.25 Day 9 - Zingst-Greifswald. Windy, cobblestones and the first rain.

It was windy, but 80% from behind 😊, so I won't complain. And the rain was minimal - the fact that it was the first on 8 days is actually more than you can expect.

Instead of a small map, here is the whole plan. A red cross marks where I am now, approaching the Polish border.

Leaving camping Am Freesenbruch with a nice tailwind, and coming to the town of Barth after a short while.

Barth

Continuing through the "bodden" landscape (lagoons), then turning north and northeast and a pretty hard 15 or so km right against the strong northern wind in an open landscape. Reminded me a bit of Iceland last year. But then the road turned again first to the east and then more to the south towards Stralsund.

Approaching Stralsund from the south

The strong wind blew up the water in the harbour of Stralsund.

Strong wind

Two days ago I expressed my dislike of cobblestones. I shouldn't have done that.

After Stralsund there were two choices: a bumpy, unmarked cycle path along the coast, or 18km of the "historic cobblestone road". Pest or cholera? I choose the cobblestones, mainly because it was shorter. I'm shaken and stirred 😀. But at least they were small, the large ones are worse.

Finally I came to Greifswald, where I stay with Warmshower hosts André and Anna and their small daughter. Thanks a lot to them for hosting me on short notice, very kind.

A few more words about equipment. At my age you have a tendency to use what you have (and maybe not realizing better alternatives). I use a Western Mountaineering down sleeping bag that I bought back in 2009 for a Nepal trip. It is not too heavy, fine down to zero and a bit lower if you put on more clothes. Fine so far on this trip, the nights are colder than I expected (several below 5). 

My sleeping gear

My sleeping mat I bought in Sacramento in 2013, when my old one gave up. It has served me wll since, alhough I have not slept that many nights in the tent. An finally, new for this year, an inflatable pillow. It weighs 90g, worth it. I used to use my clothes for pillow, but this is better.

95km in 7 hours, active time 6 hours.

Total 883km.