Barrl to Becklingen – 40km
19C
Terrain: cycle routes and road

So my leg didn’t make a miraculous recovery (as it has in the past, overnight) so I was forced to take yesterday off as couldn’t walk too well never mind run.

So, went into the local town on the B&B owner’s bike (so kind of her to lend it to me) and came across this place, this scenery went on for miles and miles. It’s amazing what nature can do when left to it’s own devices. It even inspirited me to write some poetry!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I clearly couldn’t go back to the place I was staying without this though 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decided that whatever happened I was going to get going today. So strapped my foot to try to immobilise it (which worked well) and off I went. I worked out pretty soon that running simply wasn’t an option both due to strapping and pain so had to walk, 40km was pretty slow going.

I was only expecting to do 33km today but things don’t always go to plan, I’ll explain further. The first half of today’s route was pretty uneventful, saw a couple more ‘love mobiles’ and lots more Chrismas trees but it was mostly cycle paths by the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second half was slightly less uneventful!

Towards the end, the map on my phone appeared to have spotted a short-cut that took about 5km off so decided to follow it. There I was on this completely deserted road in the forest (I have to say I did wonder why it was so quiet!), walked a couple of kilometers then passed a few guys at which point one of them started shouting at me! I had unbeknownst to me walked into a military training zone! OOPS! (NATO I think). He showed me the sign that said ‘live firing operations’. Again, oops! I was promptly told that I absolutely needed to make a U-turn, go back to where I’d come from AND go the long way round, BOO!

Bob on the way out…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have since found out that I could have been fined! I think I must have looked too surprised.

So from being ‘almost there’ I’d managed to add about 7km to my journey.

But with every cloud there is a silver lining (so they say!) and today it was true. A major bonus despite my tired legs was that as a result I went past the Becklingen War Cemetery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A very moving place that is beautifully looked after. It contains 2,401 war burials from the 1st and 2nd World Wars, mainly soldiers and airmen, with the majority being British (2,086). 146 Canadian, 79 Australian, 38 New Zealand, 2 South African, 1 Greek, 19 Polish, 5 Russian, 2 Yugoslav and 29 unidentified.

“THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn’t really work out why it was where it was but according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website “The site of Becklingen War Cemetery was chosen for its position on a hillside overlooking Luneburg Heath. Luneburg Heath was where, on 4 May 1945, Field-Marshal Montgomery accepted the German surrender from Admiral Doenitz.”

Seeing so many graves certainly brings home the deep loss and suffering. I spent some time paying my respects to the many soldiers that gave their lives, true heroes. I just wish humanity could learn to prevent these atrocities and the associated suffering but we just seem to be hard wired for war in some way.

So I was really glad for my detour in the end and the timing of coming across the cemetery is particularly poignant as I should arrive in Celle tomorrow where my Gran ended her journey as a refugee after the Second World War.

As I mentioned before I’m going to spend a few days there and see if I can do some research.

My Uncle Peter also called me yesterday to say that he would join me in Celle and help with the research, what a great surprise! Just can’t believe I’m almost there…