2 July 2014 (drizzle, cloudy, cool) 53km

Awake at 3.15 and over to the loos. It rained steadily during the night, but had stopped for us not to get soaked. Tent this morning was very wet. We have routines for everything, including folding wet tents without getting soaked ourselves. If there’s one thing life on the road teaches you it’s how to be organised. Up at 7am with a weak cup of tea [weaker than even we’re used to] followed by cereal [a combination of muesli’s].

We’d purchased some black bread this morning. This must weigh 2kg per piece and if you weren’t exercising you’d be the size of one of their converted barn doors [ don’t think you’d look as good though ].  It was thinly sliced but we didn’t need to worry about it crumbling, this stuff was solid, like a rock, and about as tasty.  We considered keeping it as a weapon to use against any would be attackers, not to bash them over the head with, but to offer a slice to – that would send any half sane person running for the hills.  But strangely enough, we don’t feel threatened at all by anybody wanting to nick off with our weird NZ mountain bikes and other gear and adopt this lifestyle.

So, off we go on another day. Heading for the ferry to take us across the Elbe river to the town of Gluckstadt. Julia wanted to take the canal route, I wanted to go the road and be sure. We took the road and did an extra 5 km. I f….n hate that !     As we cycled it began to drizzle………wow…….that’s unusual, then it got heavier, so we stopped numerous times under one form of shelter or another.

on the ferry to Gluckstadt - literally translates as happy town

Finally arrived at the ferry and were one of the first on  [one of the perks of being on a bike]. It was packed and they have three ferries running, all jam packed with a lot of vehicles being trucks. Off the other side after 20 minutes and not having paid. We think the guy thought we were with another group of cyclists, so probably charged them extra. Into Gluckstadt to find a place with wifi. This is becoming a friggin nightmare now and is eating up a huge portion of our day, so much so that the enjoyment for me is beginning to wane. 

Ju and Pete in HappyTown

Tourist info told us the only place with wifi was a posh restaurant where we ended up for lunch. Any guesses as to their wifi capabilities…..,,that’s right….sweet  f… a..

Gluckstadt

Now very pissed off, but on a full stomach, we looked a bit around the centre of the town. Very old and quaint and bustling. Next destination, Itzehoe, searching for internet. Cycled 20km’s on busy roads [albeit on cycle paths ] and by chance came across a Media Markt. [huge electronics store ]. Julia goes in to buy a dongle [which would give us access to the internet anywhere ]. Two and a half hours later, out she comes and we pedal off to search for a campground. That took another two hours, by which time we are both pissed off severely. Eventually, we stumbled into the place.

You wouldn’t have known as there were no signs anywhere. The saving grace was Ingrid and her husband Klauss, are really nice and invited us for a wine on the dijk whilst looking over the river as the sun set. As the cold night air pushed us inside the tent, Julia turned on the tablet to catch up on news, while I made a coffee.

And guess what………that’s right folks……..that Euro 60 that we just paid out, was a waste of time and money, cause it ain’t workin……..and that is our day in this internet retarded country they call Deutchland…….!