September 17, 2025 - Paderborn, Germany

 Today started with a modest breakfast and a start at 8:34 am according to my bicycle GPS. It was cool about 50 degrees with the usual 20 mph wind from the SW. that was okay as I was traveling ESE. I was layered and still chilled.

The bike path was as it has been for most of this trip. It was separated from the road by bollards, or trees, or grass. It was alphalt the entire 55 km (34 miles). I have not followed any set bike path this trip but I have moved from town to town on low density roads with low speed limits. In the 16 years since I started cycling in Europe the paths have greatly improved. My first couple of trips included many unpaved miles and lots of  farm to market roads were you only would see tractors etc.

This is a working water wheel at a farm house along the road. I do not think that is still grinding flour or anything else. The building appeared to be the home of the farm family as the outbuilding were filled with regular farming equipment. I have seen lots of corn fields but no corn on the menu. It must be on the menu for the livestock. I have seen very cows on this trip but have seen lots horses. In all of my trips I have to see a large pig farm, only a few here and there. For a country that eats a lot of pork that is surprising.

I did pass by this pumpkin stand that used a honor system for payment. The prices seen reasonable compared to pumpkin prices at the stands between Troy, AL and Dillsboro, NC. There a reasonable variety of pumpkins. I did not buy any as customs would let me bring them into the USA.

This was an obvious traveling circus set up outside a medium size town north of Paderborn. It did not have a crowd, but of course it would be open until later in the day. 

And another war memorial to the dead from the war. I think this one is for the First World War. 

I took this picture as I thought that was an unusual name for a hotel and restaurant.  Does anybody know the name of the hotel means. I will post it in my last post for this trip if nobody knows. 

Speaking of unusual things, can you identify the make (name) of the automobile. It has a unique history.

This must be test day.

LOL

No more questions.

My meal tonight started with a glass of Ouzo, shown above. 

A dark beer, to the left. 

A salad shown below

And lamb fillets with. Metaxasauce,  Zazika and rice.

All in all a very good meal.

I can eat junk food the rest of the trip and be happy as this was worth the trip.

Tomorrow morning I start my trip with a brief train ride to get out of the hills and back to easier riding. Paderborn is surrounded on three side by hills that I do not want to attempt to climb, most likely cannot climb. The other side is the direction I rode in. So tomorrow I move north to a more level area of Germany. I will still get a chance for a nice bike ride anfter the train ride.  Until then.