2025-01-11 53 9

Location

On a path next to Landwehrdamm in Hesedorf.

Participants

Plans

Gaboversta and Beardygrade will attempt this geohash.

Expedition

Gaboversta and Beardygrade traveled with the train NWB RS30 from Oldenburg-Wechloy to Bremen, with the RE 9 to Bremerhaven, and with the EVB RB33 to Hesedorf. Since 2022, the RB33 uses a Coradia iLint hydrogen fuel cell train instead of a diesel train. According to the site [1] it is the world's first regularly scheduled hydrogen train and is supposed to be very silent. The last statement could not be confirmed by the two passengers. While the typical diesel engine noise is missing, the overall noise level inside the train is louder than in some electric trains.

All of the above trains were on schedule with only some minutes lost due to a railway crossing malfunction and a construction site. Consequently, the wisely allocated buffer time was not used up when they arrived in Hesedorf. There were almost 100 minutes to spend until 16:00. They leisurely set out strolling through the small town, secretly hoping for a bistro/restaurant/anybody willing to sell something edible. But the only visible restaurant as well as the local bakery seemed to be closed for many years and a shop advertising "Rolls and more" was clearly closed for the day. On the other hand, there was an abundance (well, 2) of insurance agencies in town. Otherwise, several obviously active farms and a lot of small homesteads.

Without any difficulties, Beardygrade and Gaboversta arrived at the geohash with 40 minutes to spare. The spot was located between the walkway of Landwehrdamm and the loading area of a farmer's supplier who apparently sells technical lubricants. As a precaution, they already recorded proof and also carried out a scientific experiment involving a baking thermometer in order to determine whether they would be elegible to claim the Frozen Geohash achievement. Alas, the ambient temperature was about 2° C.

But there was still the Vexillology achievement to be considered. While walking among the streets, several Germany flags as well as an abundance of different soccer team flags were visible. From the geohash itself, only two flags could be seen and they were beyond a field in the distance. Since there still was time to kill and standing around at the roadside any longer felt suspicious as well as cold, a sub-expedition was mounted in order to investigate these flags. They turned out to be soccer team flags of the HSV in the garden of one house and of the SVW in the neighbouring garden. This fan also had a terracotta army of some kind decorated with the soccer club's insignia, the neighbour had at least one of those soldiers. Since Hesedorf is located halfway between the rivers Elbe (flowing through Hamburg where the HSV is located) and Weser (flowing through Bremen, the home of SVW), the fence between these two gardens is to be assumed the actual border between the two fan bases. Those were the musings of two guys lacking any knowledge of soccer or soccer fandom, while they cautiously retreated from the actual battle ground.

After some more walking it was time to properly arrive for the meetup, with fresh proof and a new set of photos. No one else showed up till 16:05, when Beardygrade and Gaboversta left the geohash in order to catch the next train to Bremerhaven. This one arrived on shedule, but was later delayed. Consequently, the connecting train was already gone and from Bremen to Oldenburg they had to take a RE 1. It was much more crowded, but they could sneak into the defunct train bar. But apparently they didn't quite exude the right attitude, because only one fellow passenger tried to order a Tequila.

In Oldenburg they took a bus 350 to Wechloy and finally cycled home.

Photos

The hydrogen powered train we rode on.
Proof.
At the spot.
The geohashers.
Surroundings: Landwehrdamm.
Surroundings: small waste land area with roof tiles, tree trunk and boulder stone.
Surroundings: A field beyond Landwehrdamm. Two of the houses in the background show soccer team flags.
Well, you really have to know the flags are there.
Garden decoration of the HSV (Hamburg) soccer fan whose flag was visible from the geohash.
Garden decoration of the SVW (Bremen) soccer fan whose flag was visible from the geohash.