Copenhagen, the last day

Well,  another day,  another adventure.   I sat around the hostel (yes,  I am slumming it without Julie) waiting for notification that my bike shipping stuff would become available for pickup.   Imagine my surprise to see that although it was shipped a week ago,  it still has not been sorted.   Given the fact that it was not all that valuable and that it would be next to impossible to contact FedEx,  complain and be successful in having them sort and find my package and then ride all the way to the airport to get it,  I went to plan B.

I went to a local bike shop and was successful at getting a used box.   The bike shop employee actually emptied the boxes so I could take it.   Next stop was a hardware store to get packaging materials (tape,  padding and a box cutter - knife).  The hostel I am staying at has a nice courtyard.   I set up for the packing job.

I was missing a few tools when I discovered that the little bag on the back of my bikes with a spare tire,  patch kit and multitool had been emptied sometime while on my trip (good lesson).   Fortunately,  the hostel maintenance man was there and provided me with the tools I needed,  along with multiple offers of assistance.

So I spent a couple of hours boxing my bikes and chatting with curious folks passing by.   I  was sorry to lose some tourist time in Copenhagen,  but let's face it,  28 days and then am tired of touring.

So after the packing job,  I have gone for a walk.   I just had a wonderful pastry at a very cool for market,  mine is long gone (I have been typing this as I enjoy the area). I'll take a picture of my danish from Denmark.

I will include a before and after packing pictures.   My next major challenge is getting the beast of a box to the train station (2 blocks) and then to the airport.   I did put handled on it.   Wish me luck.

(I took an pictures of bike parking at the train to,  the Danes are craz about cycling ask a regular part of life)

Copenhagen

52.00km
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1520403314

Another interesting and fun filled day.   I woke up today somewhere on the Baltic sea on a ferry between Germany and Sweden.   We arrived on time and shortly thereafter I rode down the ramp with all the 18 wheelers.   It was fun,  but not a place I could pull over and get a good shot.

Next I rode 20 miles or so from the ferry landing to Malmo.   It was fabulous riding through rural Sweden,  watching farmers head to the fields and kids on the way to school.   The landscape looked just like home.   The roads were slightly rolling and the felt like I easily could be in the upper Midwest.

After navigating to Malmo,  it was very easy to catch a train to Copenhagen.   I got off the train at the airport,  so I could check out  the status of my FedEx shipment package.   My niece, Kristy was kind enough to ship supplies that I left at her home to pack and ship my bike.  Unfortunately, although the package has been in Copenhagen since last weekend, the economy package has not been sorted and is not available.   The service agent assured me that it should be available tomorrow,  which means another 15 mile round trip to the airport.   Oh well,  the weather is expected to be fine and I have never been hurt by a few extra miles.

The afternoon I kept busy riding around the town and taking in the obligatory tourist sites.   This is a beautiful, low key town.   What is not low key is the cycling.   The feel as I am in the pelaton at the Tour design France.   I would have liked to take a  photo,  but I was terrified to get out of the flow.   I actually went quite a bit out of my ways because I was afraid that to turn.   I was continually being passed by formidable Viking desended blonde women,  with baby seats on the back of their bicycles.   I was feeling pretty in shape after two weeks of touring,  but it is obvious that I still have work to do.

Travemunde

Ring now, I am waiting in line for the ferry check in with all the trucks,  campers,  buses and cars.   Seems like a crazy system.

I woke up on the other side of Germany,  rented a car and drove to Lubeck,  dropped off the car and rode 20 miles to the ferry.   As usual, it was an interesting day.   The weather remains perfect.

I am taking the ferry to Sweden,  riding 30 miles and then taking the train to Copenhagen.   From Copenhagen, I fly home on Thursday.

I've got a few pictures of the day.   I am looking forward to getting on the ferry and getting a beer.

Cuxhaven

96.13km
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1515937115

Last day of my cross Germany ride.   I started out thinking it would be a easy day and I  should take my time and enjoy it.   After a couple of hours, a 10-15 mph headwind developed and it occurred to me I better buckle down and cycle.

I made it to the end with no problems.  Since it is Sunday, I hit the gas station for a couple of celebratory raddlers.

Not much for pictures.   I think I might explore town a bit tonight or tomorrow.   It has been an amazing ride.

Stade

Saturday the pace is very different,  the roads are quiet and it is a good day to ride through the rest of the city.   Initially, I  headed down St Pauli street (the red light district) but I quickly got tired of dodging vagrants and broken bottles.   I cut down along the dock front which has been revitalized and was very nice.   It kind of reminded me of Minneapolis,  by the river,  seriously.

A quick ferry ride accross the river and I was back in a rural paradise.  I cycled by fields of fruit trees,  strawberry and spargel (asparagus)  stands and nice well kept neighborhoods.

The air has a sea smell and feel and the height of the dikes has grown to 30'.   The ride was not planned to be long,  so I went at a leisurely pace.   It felt like a Saturday ride.   No clouds, low humidity,  perfect temperature and a slight tailwind.

I am staying tonight in another quaint town.   Right now I am grabbing a bite to eat at a Turkish restaurant (no beer,  darn) but eating al fresco.

Another fine day.

McDonald's Day

Today was all pretty short day,  I cycled 36k, about 20 miles.   I staying in a small town last night.   I was surprised to see a McDonald's about a mile down the road.   I was still looking for the trail and was dead reckoning navigating when after about 20 minutes I saw another McDonald's.  Well, not being born yesterday,  in fact being born 58 years of yesterday's ago (yes,  it is my birthday),  I figured out that I was cycling in a circle.

Well,  I gave up trying to find the trail,  got out my phone with Google maps,  and headed directly to Hamburg.  It was an urban ride,  but had very nice bike trails and lanes.

Upon arriving in Hamburg,  I dumped my bike at my hotel (lobby was on the second floor,  no elevator so I had to  carry the bike with loaded panniers up the stairs)  and went for a tour of the town.   It was a cool tour on a hop on hop off bus.   It is a very nice city,  steeped in trading and shipping history.   One of the remnants is absolutely huge red light district and sex industry.   I did see the neighborhood where the Beatles honed their skills on the early 60's.

Early afternoon I headed back the hotel to clean up and plan on heading off to the shopping district (t-shirt type shopping,  don't get the wrong idea). 

Oh,  I almost forgot,  I did head to McDonald's in Hamburg and did have a hamburger in Hamburg. 

Geesthacht

I started today with a ferry trip back across the Elbe.  It was foggy,  but fortunately not raining.   I  went out for dinner last night and had to walk about 3/4 of a mile.  I got caught in a deluge of rain.   Some of my clothing was still  wet.   I heard on the US news about the terrible rain in Germany and France.  Fortunately,  that has not been my experience this week.

I rode 77k today, most of it was in  overcast weather.   Much of the ride was on top of the dikes,  which are getting higher and higher.   I  did manage to get a picture of a story, which are plentiful and fun to watch.

I hit some bad trails about 10 miles from my destination,  so I just gave up and took the trail next to the main road.. I took a picture of some cobblestones,  which are much prettier to look at than ride on... Tru me.

The river changed dramatically today.   It has gotten much wider and seems to be influenced by the ocean 75 miles away.

Hitzacker

Distance 77.94km
time: 04:15:05
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1503996245

Another good day of riding.   A lot of the day was spent riding on  top of the flood control systems.  It is very flat and I am continually reminded how much this feels like the upper Midwest.

Not much to report today.   I got to a ferry at the  30 kilometer point and I felt very lucky to catch it after my experience yesterday.   Unfortunately,  that was not where I was supposed to cross.  I sucked up my pride and paid the ferry boat captain for the ride back to the other side.

I was chased in by rain today.   I avoided a complete soaking.   I had a close call that scared me a bit.   When it started raining, I looked up to try and figure out how long it would last,  the sun was shinning and there were broken clouds.   My front tire caught the edge of the trail (and I was moving with a tailwind).   I over corrected and got my foot down just in time to avoid a crash.   It was a good reminder how much trouble I would be in if I  got hurt.   I will be more careful tomorrow.

I got smart and picked up a couple of pilsners, pretzels and a candy bar for dessert before I got to my hotel.

I took a picture of my personal ferry ride back accross the Elbe,  a staircase Julie would have hated to a scenic view tower and a couple of shots of the beautiful little town where I am staying tonight.