Day 40 Potsdam to Lutherstadt Wittenberg... Hazel

Apparently an alarm went off at 0530. No one heard it, so there is no evidence to say we missed it. Instead we wake up at 0830. I groan with the memory of the remaining bike patch up service.
But as could be predicted we are all much more effective fed, watered, and slept. The bike's are noisy but functional, and now we can brake ( shoe braking necessary yesterday).

Breakfast. Such is the wealth of text devoted in the blog to the discussion of breakfast I am choosing today to only name it as an event. Which we could do with all our days... breakfast, cycle, eat, puncture, cycle, eat etc... However that would be quite tedious to read an write everyday. So what of today?
Alice and Phillipa seem unnervingly relaxed about the cycle despite the lack of any specific map other than our trusty europe road atlas. Nerved by their relaxed attitude I assimilate their roles and suggest we go to the tourist information before town depature. This is of course warmly welcomed and we jot down the towns the route plans us to traverse. I am sent into the Bakery for supplies. Colby cupboard requesting "three and three and three and three and three of rolls". Pigeon welsh German and hand gestures sees me exit with two carrier bags of baked goods. The Little girl in the shop is astounded with my unremitting orders for "try" and point at item.
Wheels roll. After some time Alice calls a halt... we're heading north. Europe atlas consulted. We are back a page near Berlin. Sighs, we retrace and lo! here is the sign on the other side of the road 10k back.
Some more kilometres... Snap. Ding ding (stop bell alert). Alice's front pannier rack has snapped. Cable ties and we continue.

The R1 route is dotted with maps (Colby Compass delight) and little huts. We stop in one and are suddenly in a swarm of mosquitoes. I cower under technical clothing using waterproofs as blankets and mutter soothingly under my breath. The sandwich stop is quickly moved on to the hill top for a panoramic view and no mosies.
Some more kilometres... The R1 sends us out of a town via cobbles onto a dirt track than signposts left. Up a sandy track with wooden steps. Signage is checked. We walk our bikes in disgust. Up the hill (which bible describes as a mountain?!?) and then some more kilometres. We've traveled past lot's of Sunflower fields lately. I had wondered why none were looking at the sun until the girls helpfully pointed out that they were all dead. Another picnic and loo break at a lovely tourist information centre who bent over backwards to find information on Wittenburg for us (Which we didn't need, Colby wanted to expand her infrmation libabry forgetting she was already in possession of a Wittenberg map). We emerge with a map of the R1 route (if only earlier?).
Final 25km stretch. Off road sand track with Phillipa out infront. Everyone's concentrating on navigating the best route through. I'm behind Alice whoes back wheel suddenly is up in the air and my face is headed for it. Swerving, clipping and falling, but not on top of her. Alice's pannier rack cable tie repair has failed, it is now mangled and entwined in her wheel. We are both up standing, a little shaken. Ali's knee's are bleeding. Phillipa extracts the bent alumminum, I open field hospital and tend to Alice's graze. Again the mosquitoes find us. They love cycling legs clad in leggings, and are all over me whilst I am unable to defend myself treating Alice. Conversation once again crippled by expletive outbursts.

Front panniers are lashed over Mine and Phil's rear pannier racks. Spokes are tugged back into place, none broken. It rubs on the front brake every revolution but is ridable.

Luckily we're on the descent to Wittenberg, land of Martin Luther- it would seem I am cycling though my History AS level this past week. His statute has been replaced with replicas whilst restored much to themultiple coach parties delight. Two gentleman of a coach are however more taken with Alice's cycle bell compass. They are both touching it and discussing in great detail. Despite Alice's prescence (in helmet) they do not wish to interact. Bear hotel with Bed and bike checked into.
Greek dinner and ice cream. We decide over dinner that perhaps the bikes need some attention. We also agree we're all quite tired and a proper rest day (without storming around a City's Kulture is called for).
Sleep.