The 2026 touring rowing trip took IFoRR members to one of Germany’s most beautiful aquatic landscapes: the Mecklenburg Small Lakes District. It is not without reason that the area between Mirow, the Müritz, and Rheinsberg is known as the "Land of a Thousand Lakes." Countless lakes, both large and small, are interconnected by canals and natural waterways, creating a unique region for touring rowers. Crystal-clear water, vast forests, fields of water lilies, and virtually untouched nature made this trip a truly special experience.

Mirow served as the starting point for all the rowing excursions. The boats were rented from the Blau-Weiß Mirow rowing club, which boasts an impressive fleet that includes historic gig boats spanning several decades. Accommodation was provided at the Alte Schlossbrauerei on Mirow’s Castle Island; its idyllic lakeside setting and the exceptional hospitality of the entire hotel team contributed significantly to the success of the week.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Individual arrival

The participants traveled to Mirow independently and checked into their rooms at the Old Palace Brewery. Our group occupied almost the entire hotel during our stay. The magnificent lakeside location invited us to swim and relax right from the day of our arrival.

Am Abend trafen sich alle Teilnehmer erstmals zum gemeinsamen Abendessen im Hotelrestaurant. Dabei wurden die kommenden Rudertage besprochen, Mannschaften eingeteilt und erste Kontakte geknüpft. Die Vorfreude auf die bevorstehenden Touren war bei allen deutlich spürbar.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Through fields of water lilies to the Bolter Canal

After taking possession of the boats at the rowing club, three quadruple sculls set off on the first long-distance tour.

The route initially led across Lake Mirow, where extensive fields of water lilies immediately revealed the scenic beauty of the area. It then continued via Granzower Möschen, Lake Großer Kotzow, and Lake Leppin towards Müritz National Park.

After a brief rest, we reached the Bolter Canal via Lake Woterfitz and Lake Caarp. Our destination was "Fischers Land Boek," where fresh fish sandwiches and smoked fish awaited the hungry rowers. It was particularly delightful that the participants of the land-based program and the cyclist Gabriele arrived at almost the same time, allowing everyone to enjoy a meal together. In the beautiful weather, we savored the relaxed atmosphere and the magnificent view over the fish ponds.

In the afternoon, we rowed back to Mirow along the same route. We rounded off the day with dinner together at the "Uferklang" restaurant, right by the lake.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

To the Black Lake

The second stage led across Zotzensee, Mössensee, and Vilzsee towards Schwarzer See.

We did not find the rest area originally planned at Fleeth, so we made a spur-of-the-moment stop at the beach in Diemitz instead. From there, the group continued the journey across Zethner See to Schwarzer See.

Am Badestrand bei Schwarz warteten bereits Gabriele und Ralf, die das Tagesziel mit ihren Fahrrädern erreicht hatten. Nach einem gemeinsamen Imbiss blieb genügend Zeit zum Ausruhen und Genießen der herrlichen Landschaft, bevor die Rückfahrt nach Mirow begann.

Preparations for an initial farewell were already underway during the group dinner at the Strandhotel Mirow. Since Gabriele, Harald, and Hartmut were due to leave the group on Saturday, Simone—as President of IFoRR—joined all the participants in thanking Wolfgang that evening for the excellent organization of the hiking tour, and Dorothee for the meticulous planning of the land-based program. Dagmar, in turn, thanked President Simone for her dedicated leadership of the Rotary Fellowship IFoRR.

Friday, June 19, 2026

Via the Mirow Lock to the Kleine Müritz

The third day took us through a lock for the first time.

After casting off, we soon reached the Mirow Lock and subsequently continued our journey along the Müritz-Havel Waterway. We traveled via Stumpfsee as far as Kleine Müritz.

The day was characterized by intense heat. Frequent water breaks ensured that all participants managed the exertion well while still arriving on time for the opening of the "Hafenmöwe" restaurant at the beach. Shortly after we stopped for a break, a brief rain shower passed over the area, meaning we had timed it perfectly.

We were less lucky on the return trip. We had to wait nearly half an hour at the Mirow Lock—in the heat of high summer and with very little shade. Despite this brief delay, we made it back to the rowing club in the evening and enjoyed a relaxing end to the day at the "Blaue Maus" restaurant.

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Successful conclusion with a string trio concert

For the final day of rowing, a trip via the Diemitz lock to Lake Labussee was originally planned.

However, the high temperatures necessitated a last-minute change. The plan to pass through the lock was abandoned, as was the route via Lake Labussee. Instead, the tour led across Lake Vilzsee to Fleether Mühle, a portage point to Lake Rätzsee.

A long break was taken in the beer garden of the local hotel catering to touring hikers. Due to the shortened route, the day's distance was reduced to just 19 kilometers.

We were back at the rowing club by around 2 p.m. There, the boats were cleaned and returned to the Blau-Weiß Mirow Rowing Club. As a memento, we presented Mischa with pennants from IFoRR and the Mainz Rowing Club.

In the time leading up to the evening concert at Mirow Castle, many participants took advantage of the free time to enjoy a refreshing swim in the lake.

The touring trip concluded with a group dinner at the Old Castle Brewery.

A special highlight of the evening was the highly entertaining presentation by the hotel manager. With great humor and enthusiasm, he recounted the history of Mirow and vividly illustrated the significance this small royal seat once held in world history. He recalled Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz—affectionately known as "Lottchen from Mirow"—who became Queen of Great Britain as the wife of King George III. Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, the future consort of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, also hailed from this region.

Afterwards, he led the group into the approximately 250-year-old ice cellar of the former palace brewery. Today, he hosts theater performances and magic shows there. His lively storytelling and great dedication clearly demonstrated how much committed individuals can contribute to the development of this beautiful region.

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Individual return trip home

After breakfast, the participants set off on their journeys home individually. Behind them lay five varied days filled with athletic challenges, impressive experiences in nature, and many hours spent together on and by the water.

The Mecklenburg Lake District once again proved to be one of Germany's finest regions for touring rowing. Superbly organized rowing excursions, a varied land-based program, and the warm hospitality in Mirow made this IFoRR touring trip an unforgettable experience.

Rowed distances

Datum	Strecke	Kilometer
17.06.2026	Mirow – Bolter Kanal – Mirow	26 km
18.06.2026	Mirow – Schwarzer See – Mirow	29 km
19.06.2026	Mirow – Kleine Müritz – Mirow	24 km
20.06.2026	Mirow – Fleether Mühle – Mirow (geänderte Strecke)	19 km

Summe der geruderten Strecke: 98 Kilometer