My day started relatively lazy, and it took a lot of motivation to put on my cycling clothes and go somewhere.  I had previously decided that I’d go to the Grunewald and see what the tracks there were like.  I figured they couldn’t be as bad as the MTB track that I cut my teeth on – the one that gave me scars.

I kitted up my trusty steed and, being lazy, hopped on the S-Bahn to get to the Grunewald.  It would involve about twenty minutes of travel and two changeovers to other trains.

I got to Westkreuz train station without many problems, only to discover that the train line I wanted to take wasn’t running at all!  A friendly driver recommended I catch his train to the Messe Süd station, as that wasn’t much farther from Grunewald than the Grunewald station itself.

My iPhone led me the way along towards the Grunewald, and I stumbled across this:

One of the famed cycle roads of Berlin!  No cars or pedestrians allowed, only cyclists!  I was intrigued and wanted to know where it headed, so I decided to follow it.  Sure enough, I eventually came across a sign.

My uncle’s girlfriend had already recommended I visit Potsdam, because it’s very pretty.  Less than 10km away?  Child’s play!  I had only already cycled 10km already, so another wouldn’t hurt.

The cycle path was heaven to ride on.  Of course, many roadies overtook me, but I was still cruising along at around 30km/h (on an MTB, with knobbly tyres).  Unfortunately, the path didn’t not go ALL the way to Potsdam, and I eventually had to share roads with cars and paths with pedestrians.

I passed the Wannsee on the way and tried to master the art of taking a photo of one’s self.  I was somewhat successful, but you shan’t see the countless terrible photos I took.  Thankfully, a kind tourist was kind enough to take a photo of me when I stopped just after the bridge into Potsdam itself.

I wandered around Potsdam, occasionally checking a map on my iPhone, and discovered that there was a large park not far from my location.  I meandered along, trying to find it, and came across Sanssouci Park, locationof Sanssouci, the summer palace of Frederick the Great of Prussia.

The only problem was that I wasn’t allowed to enter the gardens themselves because I had a bike with me.  I wasn’t even allowed to wheel it along!  I wasn’t going to let my bike out of my sight, so instead I decided to find some lunch.

Once again, with my trusty iPhone, I located some nearby restaurants and one immediately caught my eye, Café KieselStein.  They claimed to be organic, vegetarian and smoke-free.

After a hearty lunch of red lentil soup with chestnuts, spinach and potato bake with feta, an organic wheat beer, espresso and a piece of chocolate truffle torte, I felt re-energised and revitalised and ready to tackle the ride home!

Turning, once again, to my trusty iPhone, I calculated a route that would take me home along the shortest route possible.

Berlin has cycle ways along every major road, so I simply assumed that this path would get me home without many issues.  Thankfully, I was right (even though I accidentally rode the wrong way for a few kilometres).  Unfortunately, I did not have the presence of mind to take any photos on the way home…

As it is, I got home, eventually, and hopped straight under the shower.

The result of the day?  A pleasant, unplanned trip and 53km of cycling.