2022-11-26 54 14
| Sat 26 Nov 2022 in 54,14: 54.0206259, 14.0116877 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox |
Location
on a pasture in Loddin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Participants
Expedition
Leidenfrost and I had wanted to reach Germany's last virgin graticule for a while now, but every time the hash landed in Poland, we couldn't go, and we eventually decided to only visit the graticule if the hash landed in its German area, which comrpises around 20 km2 on the island of Usedom. We knew Fippe wanted to go too. The first geohash in 54,14-DE since May 2018 eventually came on 2022-11-26, a Saturday.
I immediately checked with Leidenfrost after the hash was announced, who was only free from 1 pm onwards. With the current prices, driving to Usedom and back would've cost around 110€, which we agreed was too much if we couldn't at least spend some time on the island during daylight. Fippe also said that he was not available that day. I looked for other options, and found out that there is a bus that runs directly from Hamburg to Usedom, only stopping in three cities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, every day! I don't think it was suggested when I last checked the routes to Usedom. It took a while to find the correct website, but I was able to find out that a two-way ticket only cost 31€ for students. However, since the bus only runs once a day, I'd have to spend the night in Usedom and take the bus back on Sunday morning. But I wanted to go anyways – the prospect of finally colouring in that Germany map seemed too good to pass up, especially because I actually had time on Saturday (well I'd have to put in more work on Sunday and Monday, but still).
I only started planning on Saturday forenoon, and was able to borrow a tent from my dad since it was going to be wet outside (I definitely wasn't going to pay over 100€ for a night in Kölpinsee's cheapest pension). I packed sleeping bag, mat, some food, warm clothes and downloaded a video on my Surface, and when I was done it was already too late to buy non-snacks for dinner or breakfast in a supermarket, and Kölpinsee didn't have any. I figured apple, banana, biscuits and nuts would just have to do for a day and set out, taking the trains to Hamburg's main bus station around midday and buying the tickets on the way.
I ate a Franzbrötchen at the ZOB and then boarded the bus, which only carried me and an Usedomer couple (how is the company make a profit?). I read for few hours and then watched my downloaded video while it got dark outside. We arrived in Kölpinsee at 5:45 pm, an hour before schedule (the driver shortened the break to 5 min to get home sooner). My plan was to go to the hash first, then continue to the Bodden and finally walk to the Baltic Sea, where I'd camp at or near the beach.
I set out southbound from the bus station with my hiking backpack, and was surprised to see there was still some snow here on Germany's second-largest island. I came past a
[This is the first part of the report, which I wrote during the expedition. The rest will follow (hopefully) soon.]
Photos
will follow shortly (up to 41 pictures)
Achievements
Land geohash, Public transport geohash Template:Virgin graticule
Proof
