Storkow's castle, rebuilt after years of decay, stands by a canal that links the Storkower See with the waterways towards Berlin and the Scharmützelsee. The town is small and quiet, with a church, a market square and a lock where boats wait to pass. It is a gateway to the Dahme-Heideseen nature park, a region of lakes, forests and heathland south-east of Berlin.
The Storkower See is a long, narrow lake, surrounded by forests and reeds, and it is popular for swimming, sailing and canoeing in summer. The nature park stretches south, with dozens of lakes of all sizes, many of them clear and quiet, and forests of pine and oak. Wolves have returned to the area in recent years, and sea eagles, cranes and beavers are common.
On the bike, things are relaxed. The roads wind through the forests and along the lakes, with gentle curves and occasional hills. Traffic is light, apart from weekends, when Berliners come out to the lakes. Mind the sandy verges, the deer at twilight and the bumpy cobbles that still pave some village centres. The roads around the Scharmützelsee, to the east, are a popular weekend ride, with more curves and views over the water.
Storkow has fuel stations, shops and restaurants, making it a good stop. A coffee by the canal, watching the boats pass through the lock, is a pleasant break. The Fläming, with its forests and villages, lies to the south-west, and the inline skating trails there are famous across Germany.