Following the Elbe river to the North Sea and (almost) back – cca 1300km in 10 days – Elberadweg

Hello! Sharing my visual diary from my first solo bike trip.

I started in Ústí nad Labem and followed the Elbe River all the way to Hamburg, and eventually to Cuxhaven – where the Elbe flows into the North Sea.

Then I went about halfway back, following a similar route – just through Berlin.The route is called Elberadweg, and there are numerous paths you can take. I did approximately 70% cycling paths and 30% gravel or off-road.
I slept in nature, in kind people's garden and in camps too.

I can really recommend the route even for begginners, since there is very little elevation.
The only real challenge was a brutal, never-ending headwind from the west/north. After that, going back inland with a tailwind felt like flying – my average speed jumped up by nearly 10 km/h, haha.

Numerous historical towns visited.
Only one puncture had. (Considering i rode 32mm slicks not bad, but next time im taking gravel tyres)
Many nice and also weird interactions had.
Time with my on head -had.

Overall a great and accessible adventure. Safe to say i found new favourite way how to visit places. Since then i toured Netherlands with my girlfriend, their cycling infrastructure is next level even compared to Germany. What would you recommend as a next trip, what are your experiences?
I saw the route from Vienna to Venice trough alps is amazing, and i've had enough of flat landscapes haha.