6 July 2014 (cloud, sun, hot) 35km

Moin, moin everyone.  You get a double moin this morning as it’s our last day in Germany.  After the violent storm last night, we managed to come through unscathed thanks to our trusty shelter, who has now earned its way into our affections by keeping us dry and warm, unlike our neighbours who were busy laying all their belongings out in the morning sunshine.  Had a very cruisy morning this morning and started the day with a relaxed cup of tea overlooking the marina while we posted the blog and checked messages.  Gotta say it’s great being independent with your own internet.  However, we are moving into Denmark today and will need to buy a new Sim card and cross our fingers that it’s a) not too expensive and b) actually bloody works!  Could it be any worse than Germany?

After breakfast, Ju showered and then gave me a haircut as the flysheet dried in the very warm sunshine.  And it needed to be to dry it out as it was thoroughly soaked.  We didn’t get on the road until 11am and even that was delayed when I realised Ju hadn’t grabbed her sweatshirt off the bush that it was drying on (as we had been sitting on it at breakfast).  So I dashed back the half kilometre to go get it.  Back with Julia, a car pulled up and it was the chef who cooked our meal last night who had slowed down specifically to say goodbye.  We thanked him again for our delicious meals and were off to see what this day would bring. 

It had to be done

In the wonderfully named town of Wees, we met a couple who gave us directions for Flensburg that would keep us on cycle tracks all the way.  They also told us tourist info was closed on a Sunday, as were all supermarkets.  They told us where the best beach was and about a coastal bike path round into Denmark.  That was great because that was all we wanted to find out at the tourist info office anyway and we had a trouble-free ride into Flensburg.  

Our first view of Flensburg

We had no idea what to expect in this city but were fully impressed with our first view of it.  Picture perfect jigsaw puzzle stuff at every turn.  Although the clouds were once again moving in, the sun was still having an impact and when it did occasionally break through, it was stinking hot.  Took refuge in a café where we had a delicious lunch and were served by two very helpful young ladies.  Off again on a cruisy photographic jaunt

through the town.  Felt for the other tourists walking round in the heat – at least we just had to pedal slowly and could create our own breeze as we cycled along.  All in all it was very pleasant.

Numerous photographs later, we began our trek around the coastline, beginning with a ride through a spruce? forest which went from the sea and worked it’s way back up the hill, as we had to do at times and were grateful for the shade it offered. Emerged in the Danish 

town of Kolland, right on the water’s edge and got our first view of some beachside property.  Very nice too.  From here we cycled round to Sonderhav where there was a small beach and we succumbed to the urge for a swim here.  It was not too cold and we would have lounged around in there for about twenty

minutes no trouble at all if the water had been deep enough for a decent swim, if there had not been sharp stones and shells on the seabed and if there hadn’t been any jellyfish.  A local told us these jellyfish didn’t sting, but there were a lot of them and they didn’t make the water look too inviting.  It was also murky.

This strange street had all these shoes tied to lines slung across the street - any ideas Anne?

However, we were desperate and did feel refreshed having had a dip in the thigh deep water.  No-one else was bothering, despite the heat.  In fact we’re perplexed at some of the gear people have been wearing on these really hot days. 

Pete with our first view of Denmark 

This area gets lots of snow throughout the winter, so you would think when the sun comes out they would all be in shorts and jandals.  But no.  It’s almost like they think, “well it won’t last and before we know it we’ll be back in winter clothes again, so I’m just not going to bother.”  The amount of people we’ve seen in long pants and shoes and even jerseys and jackets!  It makes me hot just to look at them! 

A nice little Danish house in the woods

Since arriving in Denmark less than an hour before, we have seen more WC’s (public toilets) than we saw in the whole of Europe and England in the preceding six weeks.  They are positioned about two kms apart along the seafront and well signposted.  There are also very detailed information maps at each area and we noticed they listed two kinds of campgrounds.  Your normal run of the mill kind and a natureplace kind. 

A not so little Danish house

Decided we’d check out one of these nature places as there was one just up the road and there were some dark clouds coming our way and we sure didn’t want to be stuck in the open in a thunderstorm like yesterday’s.  Came across this lovely little paradise in the woods with a nice little lawn for tents and a man working at the side.  He said it would cost 6 euro for the night ($10 NZ) and showed us where the toilet was.  They also had recycling for rubbish and a little kitchen set up although you had to pay for gas so we just used our little campstove.  You had to pay $5 NZ each for a five minute shower so we figured we’d go have a swim tomorrow instead.  The man has his house a few minutes walk away but there is only his house and one other in the vicinity, otherwise it’s just woods.  Nice and quiet and I haven’t even heard that f’ing pigeon yet.
No sooner had we finished our baked beans and macaroni on buns for tea, than my paranoia in the form of my coo coo friend, returned.  I am now convinced that he has a sat nav tracking my position.