Day 3-2. Hooksiel to Burhave contd.
After the bridge we experienced the full force of the westerly wind. It made for very slow going, first at the top of the dyke and the wind did not diminish once we dropped down behind the dyke. It took us twenty-five minutes to cover the five kilometres to Mariensiel although we stopped at this gate for a bite to eat and to enjoy the view across the mudflats. At least the sun was shining again. As the wind was still blowing a gale, we decided to turn left before Mariensiel, off the NSCR and follow the path along the edge of Jadebusen towards Cäciliengroden. The idea of cycling eight kilometres into the wind to see Schloss Gödens and then zig-zagging in and out of the wind down to Dangast was not the least bit appealing.
We cycled on and discovered that the wind had shifted direction slightly so down to Cäciliengroden the wind was a side-tailwind. As we continued to turn east the wind became more favourable. One of the neat things along this route is that there are a set of art installations and some viewpoints. The cycle path was almost empty, except for a few small groups of pensioners on bikes doing the art-route. Circumnavigating Jadebusen was turning out to be easier than we'd thought. We stopped once to take in the view at the top of the dyke and had one moment of excitement as a young deer appeared beside the track.
By the time we reached the large sluice gates and pumping station at Dangast it was time for an early lunch. We found a picnic bench with a small roof over it and sat down to eat and admire the view. We were glad of the roof as whilst we were eating a shower came along and wetted the ground. Once we'd finished our cup of tea we carried on through Dangast, stopping to do some groceries. This turned out to be a good idea, as whilst Stan was waiting outside, another much heavier shower passed overhead and he ducked under the canopy to stay dry.
It seemed like it was inevitable that we'd get very wet today, but between the showers the summer sun was hot. We cycled on round Jadebusen passing sluice gates, faded cycle signs, large pumping stations and traditional Frisian farmhouses. The wind kept shifting and the sky around us started darkening. The scenery was green and once again we ended up at the top of the dyke which gave us a bigger view of the polder landscape.
Around half past one the sky darkened even more, and it was clear that this was not going to be a light shower. We heard the rumbling of thunder, and the wind died down as the storm got closer. Luckily we spotted what looked like an old hut that seemed to function as the bus shelter at the bus stop. We parked up, and got some food and the kettle off the bikes just before the heavens opened.
We spent a half hour sheltering in the hut, watching the large 'lawnmower' across the road cutting the grass on the dyke. Once on our way, we discovered that the thunderstorm had brought a change of wind direction and we headed up towards Seefeld at at good pace. We decided to cut out the short loop to Seefeld itself and carried on up the NSCR to Stillhamm. The rain had not finished with us yet and we stopped a while later under the shelter of some trees to avoid the worst of another shower.