Herzenstour 2021 for the Parents' Initiative
Children with Cancer Association in Minden
Donation handover
In October 2021, we went to the hospital again to visit the Parents of Children with Cancer Initiative in Minden and to hand over the donations from the Herzenstour 2021. Eva Prasuhn and Claudia Bahl, together with Prof. Dr. Erdlenbruch, were delighted about 10,000 euros Donation amount.
As a team, we were very excited that we managed to generate more donations than in the previous year.
Starting point Cuxhaven
Linda and Philipp took the train from Elsterwerda this morning around 9 a.m. Philipp accidentally discovered on his ticket yesterday that no bicycle parking spaces had been reserved for the scheduled IC connection to Berlin. This is mandatory on IC trains. Unfortunately, the Deutsche Bahn booking process failed. We then decided to take an earlier train, which later proved to be a stroke of luck. If we had taken the IC to Berlin as originally planned, we would have missed our connection to Hamburg. Uwe had a similarly bumpy journey. Since a technical problem prevented him from transferring, he spontaneously left from a different station 30 minutes earlier and arrived in Cuxhaven even before us. Around 4 p.m., after a day of rail travel, we met at the train station. Uwe called it a "reunification" between East and West. The Herzenstour team was finally reunited.
After arriving in Cuxhaven, we took a short walk along the sea. Of course, a quick visit to the Kugelbake was also a must. Afterward, we dropped our things off at our hotel.
We would like to once again thank the Cuxhaven City Council and the Pura Vida Hotel for supporting our project. We received a warm welcome and were immediately treated to a workout.
Tonight we're invited to the lovely restaurant "Leuchtfeuer." Again, a big thank you to Marco, who is taking care of our catering beforehand. We can assure you: You're in good hands with the team at Leuchtfeuer in Duhnen.
We're delighted that the start went so well. Now it's time to wind down the evening. Tomorrow, 55 kilometers await us on the first stage. Our destination is Bremerhaven.
Stage 1 - 52.8 kilometers - Fighting against the wind
Cuxhaven to Bremerhaven
After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we set off motivated to tackle the Weser Cycle Route. We received a small special permit and were allowed to take our bikes along the way to the Kugelbake for a photo.
After the first 10-15 kilometers, the group grew increasingly quiet. There was a reason for that, of course. We didn't argue, but fought together against the strong headwind. We could barely go faster than 15 km/h. Of course, we also took the opportunity to glance over the dike every now and then.
Halfway through, we fortified ourselves with a piece of cake and a hot drink. This break was really good for regaining our strength. However, the second half of the stage was much more relaxed, as we gradually changed direction and thus faced less headwind—a good opportunity to rack up the miles again.
So it wasn't long before we were in Bremerhaven. Once there, we admired the large harbor. From agricultural machinery, cars, tractors, and buses. We couldn't get enough of the view – it was truly interesting. We also saw the cruise ship "Amadea." Do you know it? It's the ship on which Florian Silbereisen plays his "Dream Ship." Fun fact: This insight came directly from Uwe.
When we arrived at our hotel, we were amazed. We had just brought our luggage in. Then we looked out the window and it was pouring with rain. What a wonderful time!
Maritime Days are currently taking place in town. We'll explore a bit today and let the afternoon wind down. It won't take too long, either, because tomorrow we'll have the longest stage of the journey ahead of us, covering over 80 kilometers.
Stage 2 - 87.3 kilometers from Bremerhaven to Bremen
Our morning started with rain, so we took our appropriate weatherproof clothing out of our luggage on the Weser ferry in Bremerhaven. By the time we reached the other side of the Weser, the weather had improved, and we were able to pack our things away again.
Since we had such a strong tailwind today, we were very motivated to pedal, knowing we had to cover a lot of kilometers today. Bremerhaven and Bremen sound like they're next to each other, but unfortunately, that's not the case. In Rodenkirchen, we briefly chatted with an elderly lady, and she casually mentioned that the town had a very beautiful church. Linda and Uwe looked at Philipp at the same time and immediately shook their heads. However, there was a confirmation ceremony going on in the town at that time anyway, so we wouldn't have been able to get into the building. But you know our Philipp – he had organized an organ long ago. A bit secretive and spontaneous, but he managed it. More on that later...
We arrived at a small harbor just in time to cross the lock bridge. This is where ships enter and exit the Weser. We were once again very impressed by the technical possibilities that have been created to harmonize ship and pedestrian/bicycle traffic. First, the bridge railing lowers, and then the bridge retracts. We took a photo for you when the bridge is halfway extended. And of course, the sheep couldn't be left out either :-)
Thanks to the excellent weather, we cycled 63.6 kilometers without a break. We were a bit surprised, as this was more than our previous stage. After a quick snack, we continued on toward Bremen. On the way, we met a small family of ducks. The many impressions nature leaves behind make our heartfelt tour a special experience every year.
Since the sun was shining brightly, the last few kilometers became increasingly strenuous. But Bremen city center was getting closer and closer, and we were able to check into our hotel around 4 p.m., where we were again greeted very warmly. Since we had an organ playing appointment at St. Johann Church at 4:30 p.m. (which Philipp had secretly done), we didn't have much time. After a quick refreshment, we headed straight back to the bikes and to the church. At this point, we'd like to once again extend our sincere thanks to cantor Mona Rozdestvenskyte, who made this possible. We immediately took the opportunity to practice again for tomorrow's cathedral concert in Verden. We also had a few spectators who gave us positive feedback.
Stage 3 - Wet, wet and wet again...46.4
Kilometers from Bremerhaven to the equestrian town of Verden
When we looked out the window this morning, we already suspected that the weather wasn't going to be kind to us. We had to ride our entire stage in the rain. At first, we quietly hoped it wouldn't be too bad, but in the end, we would have had to wait an hour for the rain to ease. But we're tough fighters, and since there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing, we put on our rain gear. They certainly make you stand out in traffic. But we admit: cycling in the sun is definitely more fun. On the other hand, if you think positively about it, you have the cycle path to yourself.
When we arrived in the equestrian town of Verden, completely soaked, we were really looking forward to our hot shower. Our clothes were dried in the hotel, for which we are really very grateful.
Since we were already in Verden at lunchtime, we treated ourselves to a little nap today – it was really good. In the afternoon, we went for coffee and hot chocolate. Philipp went to the cathedral at 4:30 p.m. because he wanted to take some time to familiarize himself with the organ. Our benefit concert in Verden Cathedral was at 6 p.m. today. The crowd was once again moved to tears by Linda's very emotional speech.
Tomorrow we have about 60 kilometers to go to Nienburg. Let's hope the weather plays along better tomorrow.
We are happy that we are now sitting in the dry again and are comfortable.
Stage 4 - Breakdown, wind and rain and still 54.7 kilometers - what a blessing
Verden to Nienburg
Our day today got off to a rather bumpy start. We had just left the equestrian town of Verden when suddenly a dull, clanging sound rang out. Every cyclist's worst nightmare struck – Uwe's e-bike chain had broken. However, we knew there was a bike shop near our hotel. Arriving there, we were confronted with a sign reading "Holiday until August 23, 2021." A passerby noticed our distress and told us about another bike shop. There, we were successful, and the e-bike was repaired within about 45 minutes. Now we were a bit pressed for time, as we had an appointment with the district administrator of the Nienburg district at 3 p.m. We called to let them know that we might be late. The breakdown wasn't our only problem; we had to contend with strong headwinds for a large part of the route. Due to time constraints, we replanned our route and thus saved several kilometers and time.
In Drakenburg, we visited the ship lock and took time for a break in Hoya. Little things like refreshments are a must on a cycling trip like this. Along the way, we also spotted the mysterious place called Fledermausland :-)
Our faithful friend, the rain, was back for the final kilometers. But it wasn't as bad as yesterday. Despite all the difficulties, we arrived in Nienburg 15 minutes late and met with the district administrator, Mr. Kohlmeier, and the district press spokesman, Mr. Duensing. We talked about our heartfelt tour project and bicycle tourism in the town of Nienburg. Later in the afternoon, we took some time to relax.
We ended the evening in a cozy bar.
Tomorrow we'll be cycling over 60 kilometers again. But we're excited, because Uwe has a home game tomorrow. So if you're from Schnathorst or the surrounding area, you should definitely come to the concert at the church at 6:30 p.m. It's worth it. We look forward to seeing you.
Stage 5 - 64.3 kilometers from Nienburg to Minden via Schnathorst - finally dry at the finish...
Today was a better day. We had to battle the headwind again, but at least it didn't rain as heavily as the other days. And the day passed without any breakdowns. So we were able to ride our bikes in a truly relaxed manner.
We also took a short trip to Russia today. This small town belongs to Petershagen, but we haven't figured out exactly what it's all about.
In Buchholz, we took a break by the Weser River. There was also a church in the town. Philipp was supposed to drive by and see if it was open. As Linda and Uwe approached the church, they could already hear the sounds of the organ. Philipp had gained access to the gallery and, by chance, had the key to the organ in his pocket. And what does an organist do then? Of course, he tries out how the instrument sounds. Linda and Uwe are no longer surprised by such actions.
Around 2:30 p.m. we reached the town of Minden and took a lovely photo in front of the lock. We'll share it with you, of course. After another short break, we continued towards Porta Westfalica. From the bike path, we could see the town's famous monument. Fortunately, the bike path continued to improve, so we managed to cover a good few kilometers by the end. Around 3 p.m., we met up with Ms. Bahl and Ms. Wolf from the Parents of Children with Cancer Initiative in front of the Minden hospital. We were warmly welcomed with a small buffet. We chatted about the association's work and how important it is to maintain parent-child contact during a hospital stay. The pediatric cancer ward is the only ward in the hospital with a balcony, so that the children can get some fresh air. A special effort was made to accommodate this during the construction of the hospital. We can only confirm that the association's employees are passionate about their work. This way, we can be sure that every donation to this project is in one hundred percent good hands. We could have talked for hours, but the next appointment was coming up.
Uwe's wife had picked us up because we were making a detour to Schnathorst for a benefit concert. The town is his hometown, and it was his great wish that we also perform a concert here in "his" church. Of course, we fulfilled his wish. After coffee with the family, we went to the church, and Philipp immediately fell in love with the organ. It's a relatively small organ with over 1,000 memory locations for the stop pulls. This saves the organist a lot of work when there are a lot of registers to be made, as you can select your preferred stops at the touch of a button. He would have loved to dismantle the organ and take it home with him. Overall, the concert in Schnathorst was a complete success. The harmony of Uwe and Philipp's voices was once again confirmed, and Linda's speech once again touched hearts and brought tears to our eyes. The presentation of the Courage Beads project also aroused considerable curiosity among the guests.
We're happy that we experienced so many wonderful things that day. And we'll say it again: The club in Minden is worth every single day we battle against the wind and the rain. Tonight we're staying at Uwe's, and tomorrow we'll be heading to the Pied Piper town of Hamelin. That means 70 kilometers for a good cause.
Stage 6 - 75.4 km at great speed from Schnathorst to Hameln...
After a delicious breakfast in Schnathorst, we set off again to begin today's stage. It was much more fun today, as we had a bit of a tailwind and were able to do a lot of downhill riding. While we didn't see much sun and had to unpack our rain gear again, we didn't get as wet as the other days. We cycled along the Werre River all the way to Bad Oeynhausen. A very beautiful and idyllic area. The Werre River flows into the Weser.
In Bad Oeynhausen, we visited the graduation tower. This is a former salt production facility. Evaporation and dripping of the saline water from the blackthorn bushes increase the salt content of the brine. A fascinating piece of technology. In this park, you can inhale the beneficial brine aerosols.
After completing more than half of the route, we took a break in the lovely town of Rinteln. There, we fortified ourselves with a currywurst and explored the old town.
Thanks to the good wind, we made really good progress and reached the Pied Piper town of Hamelin around 3 p.m.
Why Pied Piper Town? We'd like to share this legend with you:
"According to legend, in the year 1284, a strange man appeared in Hamelin. He wore a garment made of multicolored cloth and claimed to be a rat catcher, promising to rid the town of all mice and rats in exchange for a certain sum. At that time, Hamelin was suffering from a severe rat plague, which the town itself could not control, which is why it welcomed the stranger's offer.
The townspeople promised him his reward, and the rat catcher took out his pipe and whistled a tune. Then the rats and mice crawled out of all the houses and gathered around him. When he thought none were left behind, he went out of the town into the Weser River; the whole crowd followed him, plunged into the water, and drowned. But when the townspeople saw themselves freed from their plague, they regretted their promise and refused to pay the man his reward, so he went away angry and bitter.
On June 26, however, he returned in the form of a hunter, with a terrifying face and a strange red hat. While everyone was gathered in the church, he once again blew his whistle in the streets. Immediately, this time, not rats and mice came running, but children, boys and girls from the age of four upwards, in large numbers. He led them, always playing, out of the Easter Gate into a mountain, where he disappeared with them. Only two children returned because they were late; one of them, however, was blind, so he couldn't point out the place, the other mute, so he couldn't tell the story. One little boy had turned back to fetch his outer garment and thus escaped the misfortune. Some said the children had been led into a cave and emerged again in Transylvania. A total of 130 children had disappeared. They were never seen again.
A mysterious story... you see, we also learn something new on the heart tour.
In Hameln we took a look at the beautiful old town.
Tomorrow, we have another 70 kilometers ahead of us. So we'll take it easy tonight.
Stage 7 - 71 kilometers - under 4 hours from Hameln to Höxter...
This morning we took a photo at the starting line at the Hotel "Zur Börse" in Hameln and would like to thank everyone again for their kind support of this year's Tour of the Heart. Today we started in a particularly good mood, as we had good weather for the first time, no rain, and little wind. This, of course, makes cycling much more fun.
In Polle, we at least saw the castle from afar. A historic building first mentioned in documents in 1285.
At the Reileifzen holiday camp, we fortified ourselves with a light meal, and today our supply of drinks was consumed significantly more than on the other days. This was probably due to the slight rise in temperature.
Since the cycle path ran almost always parallel to the Weser, we were by the water quite often today and this idyllic setting was a true feast for the eyes.
Today we learned another new legend: The Legend of Hajen. We photographed it especially for you so we can share it with you. So just browse through our pictures and you'll find it. Personally, we don't think you should eat cat meat.
We also drove through the town of Bodenwerder, where the famous Baron Hieronymus Carl Freiherr von Münchhausen was born. There are countless stories about him tying his horse to a church steeple, riding a cannonball, pulling himself out of a swamp by his hair, and traveling to the moon. Of course, these stories were all made up, which is why he is also known as the "Lying Baron."
When we arrived in Höxter, we visited Corvey Castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014). Unfortunately, we didn't have time to explore it in more detail today. It's a famous 9th-century monastery with a Baroque palace and a large library.
At 4:30 p.m., we met with Mr. Schumacher from the Höxter district (District Director and Deputy District Administrator) and presented our Herzenstour project to him. To explain it in more detail, Linda showed him her courage pearl necklace. We thank you for the pleasant conversation and recommend a visit to the Höxter district. The people we met today were all very hospitable.
Tomorrow, unfortunately, the last leg of our tour of the heart awaits us, as we'll be heading to Hannoversch-Münden, where the "source" of the Weser River is located. We'll explain why you can't really call it a source in tomorrow's blog.
Stage 8 - 76.5 kilometers in pure sunshine to Weserstein
Feelings are mixed today. On the one hand, we're sad that the 2021 Herzenstour has reached its goal, but on the other hand, we're happy that we stayed strong despite many adversities (wind and rain) and reached the Weserstein today in pure sunshine. We started in Höxter and deliberately took our time today. The weather was perfect for it.
After a short time, we finally found a suitable sandy beach where Linda could immortalize her traditional Herzenstour lettering.
We took our first break in Bad Karlshaven, where the view of the Weser River was supposed to be beautiful. Philipp, of course, was busy eating. A break like this is truly relaxing, but we'll let you in on a secret: It's not so easy to get back on the bike after a relaxing period.
Today it was Uwe who was looking for open churches. We found one in Lauenförde, and after consulting with the church council chairwoman, Mrs. Reinken, Philipp was officially allowed to play the organ. Here's a small excerpt:
A few kilometers later, we made another stop because Uwe and Philipp had promised Linda they'd have some soft serve ice cream together somewhere. After we crossed over on the ferry, Linda quickly found a soft serve ice cream stand right next to the bike path. Things couldn't have gone better, and the three of us confirmed that it was truly delicious.
Today we had the biggest climb, with over 500 meters of elevation gain to overcome. It wasn't easy in the heat, but we're glad we made it. What Linda and Philipp didn't know was that Uwe had packed a water pistol. Due to the bad weather so far, it hadn't been used. The sunshine was perfect for that today, and it made the heat a little more bearable. And yes, other cyclists were also attacked with water—we had fun.
We were able to enjoy a bit of refreshment at the Klostermühle Bursfelde, as the owner supported our project. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank him once again.
St. Mary's Church in Gimte was protected from illegal organ playing because access to the gallery was well secured. (You probably already know why ;-))
A few kilometers later, we reached the Weserstein in Hannoversch-Münden. Yesterday, we told you why we can't really call it a source. The Werra and Fulda rivers converge here and together form a new river, the Weser.
That is why the stone bears the following inscription:
"Where Werra and Fulda kiss. They must atone for their names.
And here, through this kiss, German to the sea, the Weser River is created"
Inscription Hann. Münden 31 July 1899
We'll explore the city today and end the evening in a relaxed manner. Unfortunately, the three of us live very far apart, so saying goodbye tomorrow won't be easy. We don't know when or where yet, but we do know that we're already looking forward to the next time.
It was another wonderful Herzenstour. We met many friendly people, and this year, too, it was over far too quickly. It's a good thing that today was the last leg, though, because Uwe urgently needs to repair his rear wheel. The tour has already cost him three spokes. Many thanks to everyone who followed our blog and attended our concerts. We would be delighted if you would leave a comment in our guestbook, letting us know how you felt about the blog and whether you'd like to see the same for the next tour. See you soon and all the best. Your Herzenstour team
Linda & Philipp Zeiler with Uwe Kirchhoff
