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I’ve been meaning to do this since last Tuesday, It’s just another one those things that you never get time to finish although I have loads of time on my hands.
A bit of forward planning Pan and myself wanted a run out prior to TLD, the Harz Mountains were suggested and as Pan had never been before I suggested we go and find the old Inner German Border, around the same area were we used to patrol. I say patrol it was more like showing uniform presence, it wasn’t compulsory but the Harzberg area was and still is a great area. I mentioned was due to the fact that having the Russian Shock Army on your doorstep the locals really appreciated the British Forces, in our Garrison towns we were banned from most of the clubs and bars and here we were welcomed with opened arms and free beer. Hence I used to volunteer for as many as possible and managed to get a few weekends adventure training and camping in the area as well.
The patrols back then were always with someone from British Frontier Service who knew the fence like the back of their hands and were always good for a history lesson. Telling us stories of farms that were cut in two, one brother in the east one in the west, they could see each others farms but had no contact. There is also a dam nearby that the border separated in the middle, the Glienicke Bridge in Berlin was made famous when swapping spies during the cold war became more common, there were a few swaps made on the dam as well but those of a more secret nature.
It was great to see how it is now and even managed to ride a short section of the track patrolled by the old East German Army, 25 years ago I used to look over the fence at the harrowed strip, the trip wires, the barbed wire, war-dogs and anti-tank ditches, now it’s a reclaimed forest.
We deliberately took the scenic route with Satnav set to shortest route, it took us down some great roads with loads of grin factor, all in all about 500Km worth of fun-time, not many pics but as you know the cobbler has the worst shoes and I look through the lens enough for work so I’m glad to leave it in the bag. If any one wants to come on the next run you’re all welcome, history lesson included.
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Originally Posted by Alba
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