Day 4 - 63.1 miles (99.7km)

Barforde to Gartow

Woken by short, sharp shower at 06.00, then went for another short sharp shower before setting off at 08.00. Heavy grey cloud all day but no rain. Wind initially from SE but thankfully veered W later in the day. Sauntered leisurely along until breakfast at Bleckede. Derek clearly didn't understand what black arrows on the map meant so we encountered many steep hills.
So far we have seen no damage as a result of the spring flooding but hundreds of thousands of used sand bags besides the dykes. Cultural Highlight - Hitzacker's artfully decorated, half timbered buildings.
Hitzacker was our lunch stop but unfortunately we (me) left our our lunch in Bleckede. However we did enjoy the local spezialitat, a huge almond and honey pastry.
30 more miles got us to Gartow and a four star campsite. Derek was tired so after pitching the tents cycled rapidly to the nearest beer garden. Three beers later Derek's outlook on life was vastly improved.
We hope the slow puncture in Derek's back tyre has been fixed by the simple process of changing the inner-tube.
We are thinking of renaming the route 'Glimpses of the Elbe Radweg however we have seen plentiful wildlife. Storks. deer, hares and a group of seven herons.