Final Remarks

Denmark, outside of Copenhagen is empty. We got the impression each town we visited had just been evacuated prior to our arrival, no idea why! Coffee shop women appeared dour, Germanic but defrosted under the onslought of our combined charm.
Food and drink stupidly expensive, thought accommodation reasonable. Self catering recommended.

Denmark is windy and has far more hills that you'd imagine. The only holiday makers that visit Denmark are the odd German and the even odder Otter.

Done Denmark, Copenhagen worth a revisit.

Lots of laughs, serious poker losses (pretend money of course), and we did the readings each day, so that makes it all ok.

Home.

The End.

Day 6

Copenhagen sightseeing, and gift shopping. Scattered showers with outbreaks of sunshine forced up periodically into coffee shops. Satisfyingly long train journey to Esbjerg, followed by slightly unstable ferry crossing not helped by overindulgence at the dinner buffet. More poker concluding with steve handing over the car keys to jon who didn't like it and handed them back deciding he'd prefer the cash. In car now on homeward journey.

Day 5

.. Before heading to a concert mike was playing in. Vivaldi and Charles Ives-an investing contrast. Enjoyed possibly the best ice cream ever in the oldest theme park in the world, forgetting that we were no longer burning 5000 kcals per day any more! Couple of beers in a basement pub before squeezing into our hostel room for the night.

Day 5

Valve repaired steve meets them with his usual smiling grace. And only mentions the perfidy of his so-called friends a few hundred times. 50 something miles later on our way into Copenhagen the Jinx strikes again as the Roo's rear paw gave up. Replaced perished tube and set off to the city. Copenhagen was completely the opposite of the rest of denmark-civilised, populous, ney cosmopolitan-ish. Youth hostel awful-modern and poorly thought out. Met mike szabo, a christadelphian, and had a chinese meal...

Day 5

Jinxed! A day of hard riding and mechanical misfortune. Took early train across impressive bridge. "what's wrong with my wheel?" said jon. That'd be the broken spoke! "we're going to need a bike shop" we said as we leaned our bikes against a shop window. looking up we noticed the building was full of bicycles-a bike shop. 20min later, bike repaired on our way rejoicing. Flying along steve's value blows out, andrew and jon claim not to hear his plaintiff cries for help, and two miles on decide to phone him

Day 4

Weather and wind couldn't be more different. Fast, sunny 75miles. Particularly enjoyed Middlefart. Took plenty of bridge photos for Jon's dad! Amazed to find Odense had people in it! Ate, drank and made merry. Listed to a band who were to all intents and purposes a slash metal group who opened with Eagle-eyed Cherry moved on to Britny and finished with Easy like sunday morning.Eclectic to say the least.Steve wanted them to turn the volume down,but nevertheless seemed to enjoy in, and almost started dancing.

Update

Jon, saw the girls this evening and despite their claims look to be thriving well without you!! No evidence of any dried out old teabags about their persons.

 

After much discussion we started Malachi this evening, despite views expressed to do the whole book tonight we thought you boys would like to benefit from the pearls of wisdom so have left the last 2 chapters for next week.

 

If anyone is wondering my lodger has moved out having finished enjoying the shelter at No.37and as they say you have to "encounter" a lot of frogs before you meet Prince Charming!

 

Anyway hope you have all slept well and not too many aching muscles!

 

Love RDW

 

P.S What has happened to capital letters?

Day 3

Andrew's bike has developed a mind of its own attempting to throw him into the path of on-coming cars. Incidents averted we struggled on manfully (jon's contribution) arriving at our destination having covered 73 windy miles. Bought spag bol ingredients from good old Netto, supped some wine, beat jon at poker and are about to hit the sack. "up early" states the doctor, "it's good for you"... Paa!

Day 3

The problem was the detour. A brief trip to the famous Arhus-former capital of denmark. From there we had to tack west into the wind and hills. However, it was a great town and the most populated to date. Found two classic places to dine-one coffee shop and then a Cassablanca-styled cafe called Cassablanca. The route from Arhus was draining, demoralising, demotivating and downright devilish... Speaking of which, jon's possessed bike has not bitten him since we exorcised it. Andrew's on the other hand has!

Day 3

Awoke to a bright eyed steve insisting jon and i got up. "fine weather, breakfast's waiting" to no avail. After breakfast the weather didn't look so good. Rain showers and constant wind, which passed in time for our departure, well-the showers did, sadly the wind didn't. Departed Randers with a strong headwind. And anyone who says demark is flat hasn't cycled there! A day of constant climbs with continuing headwind. Suprised to find we're not 2000m above sea level now, since it sure feels like it!

hi andrew

just to say hello as your mum has sent me the info on your trip........well done, you all seem to be doing really well! keep going and enjoy......will follow your route now i know how to do it haha..... take care, hope you havnt got too many blisters yet?

best wishes,

julie x

Day 2

102miles, 16.5mph, 6.2hours in the saddle. Feeling, ok, though tired. Passed through various ghost towns. Found great pastries for breakfast, burgers for lunch and enchilladas for tea. Totalling 5000 including chocolate shakes! Jon's emergencies continue, needing more bandages not from falling off but from the bike attacking him at rest stops. Lighter day tomorrow, more touristy hopefully. Sleep time now.

Day 1

Arrived at ferry on time and joined the queue of hell's angels boarding the ferry. Pleasant crossing:flat and calm. Great cabin. Poker games fun-the doc down 1500! Esjberg uneventful. The 50mile day became 67! Flapjack's essential! Arrived at the ghost town ringkobin-everyone seems to go somewhere after 7pm! Accommodation extensive, and very comfortable, though everythings relative. Great meal in town-being the only patrons. Impressions of denmark to date-1 windy,2 empty!

email address

Dear All

Have texted the address but here it is again

andrew.palmer.denmark@blogger.com

My guess is you are probably not putting in enough fullstops.

Lets hope this works as missing not having the updates to read of your days adventures!!

Love Rachel DW

Good morning

Dear Boys

Hope you slept well in your luxury hostel.

I seem to have had lodger overnight in the garage ( not paying but then didnt want breakfast either!) in the form of a large frog! Preferred to stay rather then be guided out.As you all seem to know the garage is a good place to hover.Better check he hasnt been mysteriously turning off freezers and turning on washing machines!!

Have a good day

Love RDW

blog account

Sadly no messages from me as my account says invalid password.

 

Anyway hope the ferry journey is smooth and enjoy yourselves.

 

Love RDW

The Map

Itinerary

Sunday 8th June 2008. Depart London in civilised automobile (Steve's Rover 75), collecting the Otter and his bike (exhort prop) from Finsbury Park en route.
Catch ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg (some 21 hours ... clearly lots of "reading" will be done in this time). Jon's bringing some playing cards... cards and "reading" go well together.

Monday:
Arrive soon after midday and need to cover around £50miles. So fairly leisurely and should have plenty of time for stop offs. Holmlands Klit looks nice (stop smirking!)... especially the lighthouse.

Tuesday:
Up through Holstebro and across through Viborg and ending in Randers. This is 90miles the most direct route. There's a modern monument in Holstebro which is meant to be Jacob's 12 ladders, where they got the other 11 from I have no idea. They look cool though, at 7500 Holstebro.
Also in Vinderup there's a 13C castle and apparently the ghost of the castle, the holy Birgitta, is still wandering around. Address is Holstebrovej 38, 7830 Vinderup. This makes the route 100miles spot on.
Viborg looks lovely.
The limestone mines with between 12000 and 14000 bats sounds interesting! Here's the location.
Cycle route No. 3 seems sensible for getting through Viborg.

Ending at Randers sounds good. Will have effectively done West to East Jutland in a day! Think all we'll be up for is a good meal. This place looks cool.

Wednesday: Ending in Giveskud only means a 72mile day if we go direct. So room for deviating here. Definitely suggest we go via Arhus (Demark's 2nd largest city), and see at least 1 museum there. Here's a list: The open air of urban history and culture looks good.
There's also a castle in Arhus, so it could be a good place for lunch.
Still this only makes the day 78miles.

Thursday: 60miles from Giveskud gets us to our destination in Odense. So again, room for detours. We're on Fyn by before lunchtime. Vejle is on route there, which might be of interest. There's a minitature village/house of Fredericia Kobstad if anyone knows anything about that?

Lots to do in Odense (Hans Christian Anderson's hometown - 1805)... another castle or museum if we can bear it. Here's a list.


Friday: 102 miles to Copenhagen from Odense. With a train to catch. Should be a good day. Would like to see some Viking ships in Roskilde if time permits. Lunch around Slagelse I suppose.