2025-04-01 52 14
| Tue 1 Apr 2025 in 52,14: 52.2837817, 14.0786172 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox |
Location
Forest very close to an abandoned military site near Bad Saarow.
Participants
Plans
Google Maps says I can take RB35 to Bad Saarow Klinikum then walk into the forest. Return train 1h10 later. Alternatively, the walk from Bad Saarow isn't much longer, though based on OSM I'm not confident its suggested walking route to the south of that station is actually possible.
Expedition
Directly after a German class, I buy a snack and wait for an RE1 train eastward. At some point before reaching me, it's delayed enough that I worry about even the 12-minute planned transfer - but then it makes up some of that time again. Thirty minutes later in Fürstenwalde, I cross the pedestrian bridge to the waiting RB35, another battery powered operation.
Nice views of the Spree river, a small lake, and briefly a heron. Off the train at Bad Saarow Klinikum - wait, where was I supposed to walk? - ah yes, out the southeast corner of the parking lot - uh, did I check this walking route against OSM like the other one? - oh no, look, there are signs that specifically prohibit crossing the tracks exactly where Google wants me to. The nearest proper road crossings are next to the other stations (Bad Saarow and Bad Saarow-Pieskow), so either of those would actually have been a better place to get off the train. I conclude my best course of action is to re-board the train as it comes back from Pieskow, and then start walking from Bad Saarow instead with only an hour available.
That done, I choose the route with the shortest potential distance to the point and soon enter the forest on a barely-present path behind some houses. Soon it joins a more substantial track. More lake views.
I'm south of the point, just about at the closest point on the track, when - what's that sign facing the track on that tree? - forbidden, dangers to life and health? - well that's a couple good reasons to not just traipse into the forest. OSM shows the path into the military site approaching closer to the point, so let's at least see if it's possible to get over there by following the track around.
Surprisingly, the way around is open and doesn't seem to come with any warning signs itself. There's a fairly clear way west to a tower, then - watching my step - practically a trail south to within a few meters of the point. Success and a similarly careful exit.
Now I'm behind schedule, and the shortest path back from here might be through the military site, which sounds interesting to see regardless. The area has clearly been visited by graffiti taggers, and I also pass a pair walking a dog. With the train time approaching, I start walking fast and break into a jog for a minute. As I cross the tracks, I think I see the train in the distance, and I beat it by about a minute to the platform. Exact same train and crew, just going back and forth on this 20-minute-long line. RE1 back towards home.
Tracklog
Photos
Wrong way @52.2839,14.0659
Goodbye for real this time train @52.2929,14.0649
Wrong way again @52.2825,14.0776
Right way? @52.2844,14.0789
Geohasher @52.2838,14.0786
Map screenshot
Abandoned building @52.2863,14.0804
Achievements
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coyotebush earned the Public transport geohash achievement
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coyotebush earned the Constant geohasher achievement
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Note: I'm counting puppet master expedition 2024-06-10 44 -93 towards this achievement.
Honorable mention: Regional geohashing achievement for Oder-Spree, which covers the following graticules. The remaining area would very much qualify under the honorable mention policy for the reverse regional achievement, but Regional doesn't have the same.
| Name | Geohash probability |
Status |
|---|---|---|
| ■ 52,14 | 22.8% | 2025-04-01 52 14 |
| ■ 52,13 | 6.8% | 2025-03-20 52 13 |
| ■ 51,14 | 0.000030% | one corner of a field |
