From Flensburg to Aabenraa, Denmark

Sunday, June 28, 2020

The morning at Klaudia and Hartmut's is very relaxed, we have a cozy breakfast and have a lot to talk about. I got to enjoy a hot shower again. They washed my laundry. For a traveler like me, that's a big highlight! It's the simplest things, and the things that most people take for granted, that I appreciate with gratitude! Hartmut also fixes my bike for the ride, the chain is oiled and the kickstand is secure again. Now it runs smoothly😅

Now it's time to say goodbye😔 Klaudia and I take a walk with the three little dogs, then she leaves.

And now Hartmut surprises me, because he wants to accompany me to Denmark across the border. In these times, we have strict travel conditions. It's not easy for me to come to Denmark. That makes me feel safe.

Arriving at the harbor in Flensburg, there is a rain shower again. We stop and have a fish sandwich first. I've never tasted one so delicious before.

We drive through side streets and a park, I have no sense of direction anymore. My luggage cart doesn't like the bumpy cobblestone pavement🤔 It loses a wheel...so it's time again: get out the tools and repair. It's much easier to do it together.

Finally arrived at the border, there is already a long line of cars heading towards Denmark. The bicycle/pedestrian lane is free. Hartmut asks the border officer who is there to check the drivers if we can go. He waves us friendly and wishes us a good trip. My heart is dancing salsa😅 we are in Denmark🇩🇰

Now it's time for us to say goodbye as well😔 Hartmut gives me a few crowns... I don't know what to say... I'm overwhelmed. I'm so grateful for the encounter with both of them.

And now I'm standing alone in Denmark on a country road. It's Sunday, I try to call home with my phone card. I'm not sure if it will work. I'm looking for a way to access the internet. I find an open supermarket. What a relief, at least I can get something to drink. I finally figure out how the phone works and I'm already a bit more relaxed. The next question: where do I go now? I take another look around and enter Aabenraa as the destination. It's located on the Baltic Sea, there I want to try to find a place for the night.

The wind is quite fresh here! Arriving in Aabenraa, I can't find anything suitable for me. At the harbor, I make myself a cup of coffee with my camping stove, it takes practice in this wind😅 And again dark rain clouds are coming. So, I need to leave here. After half an hour, I find a quarry lake. It's very peaceful here, no civilization in sight. On the opposite shore, there are excavators and conveyor belts for gravel, but that doesn't bother me. I set up my tent between the bushes near the water. I am content. The first night in Denmark under the open sky. How exciting😊