From the Elbe to the Spree

Towards the evening, a few freestylers have gathered on the Elbe. - Everyone is enjoying the last rays of sunshine. Sitting on a bench, we are suddenly approached with the words: "You're planBwagen, aren't you?" - We first have to get used to this kind of address. - Very nice, very friendly and "still" foreign to us. - This very nice contact is an opportunity for us to think about what information we want to share, what we should share. In this respect too, we first need to find our way and then explore. - On the one hand, we would like to share places that inspire us. On the other hand, we don't want to burn them. We're still practising. - But it is a joy to share. What did Albert Schweitzer say? 

"Happiness is the only thing that doubles when you share it"

We look out over the Elbe for a while and let the evening fade away. - When we wake up the next morning, it's clear that we'll be having breakfast outside today. A few minutes later, we are standing on the jetty, which we have all to ourselves this morning. Time for a little "physical exercise" - followed by fresh fruit, yoghurt, muesli and nuts. What better way to start the day?

We don't set off until around midday. - Our destination is Berlin and the Spree. - But first we stop once again at the Covers Shop. - We are excited because we had a clear set of requirements. We wanted two bike bags that were as windproof and waterproof as possible and UV-resistant, as we would often be outdoors. We swapped our SUP bag from Red-Paddle for an X-TREMER 150 liter packsack from Ortlieb. This offers us enough space for SUP, neoprene, fins etc. - great, but at 150 liters, Ortlieb just stops there. And we are looking for storage bags that can accommodate our folding bikes and protect them accordingly. A bag made to measure. - At first we discovered offers made of robust truck tarpaulin on the homepage. But the store also offers "Vela Bag", a kind of waterproof rucksack fabric as an alternative. This fabric is said to be extremely tear-resistant. On the spot, it is clear that this is exactly what we were looking for. - When we pick up our bags, we are thrilled. The bags make a damn good impression. - Whether they will match or surpass Ortlieb's quality in the long term remains to be seen. But the first impression is great and, above all, they fit.

When we tell him that we are on tour with a van, the boss draws our attention to his awning fabrics. Apparently the original fabrics often tear and have to be replaced. Instead of the very "classic" striped patterns, you can also get various plain colors here. We hope that ours will last a long time. But then plain would also be our first choice. Unless we get an offer for pixel camouflage. - He laughs - "So far, the demand for pixel camouflage has been limited." - We're still working on it.

In the end, we play the blogger card. And lo and behold, Martin, the very likeable boss, has already stalked us. So he knows that we still have our "great" future as bloggers ahead of us. Nevertheless, we are receiving advance praise because we are getting a discount code for our readers. So if any of you order something from the store, simply enter the discount code planBwagen-10 in the comments field. The 10 % will then be deducted from the invoice.

PS: This is not yet an advertisement, because we don't earn anything from it. - By the way, please ask for "Urban Digital Pattern" - who knows, maybe one day we'll have our own awning fabric 😉

We make our way to the Spree. - "I still have a suitcase in Berlin" - this was not only true for Dietrich, it is also true for me. Berlin was and is a very special city for me. - From 1991, I lived in or on the outskirts of this city for fifteen years. At that time, "everyone" wanted to go to Berlin, including me. Berlin stood for upheaval and change. After the fall of the Wall, it was not only my personal time, but also Berlin's "Sturm und Drang". - The city on the Spree was transforming itself into a hotspot of culture and architecture. - There was a kind of gold-rush atmosphere everywhere. - Klaus Wowereit put it in a nutshell: "Poor, but sexy". - New buildings, galleries and clubs were springing up everywhere. But even the last backyard cellar was a party place. - Berlin seemed to be reinventing itself every day. The city was not at all ordinary.

Here I met friends who are still with me today. Moni, Uwe, Susanne and Oliver, as well as Sabrina and Jens. Although the 'and' is no longer justified for the latter. What the heck, they are just as valuable individually as they are as a double pack. - That's why I'm always as happy as a little boy when it's time to go to the Spree. "Time for friends" is on our agenda for the next few days and, of course, "I feel good, I'm into Berlin, Berlin, Berlin..."