Category Archives: Denmark

Time to disembark in Esbjerg

The photo below is of keen important to just about everyone – by that I mean long distance cycle tourists. Clearly the importance is obvious.

Okay, I’ll explain. Mark and Gideon are riding to Croatia, and I’m riding north – wait for it – we’re all riding Thorn Nomads from Bridgewater in Somerset’ except they’re on generation 2 and I’m on a generation 1 ( it’s the one hiding in the back – without a side car). I was envious.

This next photo is of the Debbie Mayo-Smith IT HelpDesk.

This takes outsourcing to extremes. But the hourly rates are very good and it only took 11/2 hours to fix Debbie’s laptop using an ipad, wifi, Viber and Teamviewer from my tent.
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The joys of getting Internet

I think that the rituals and ceremonies of the ancient and secret societies of past ages were child’s play when compared to getting a SIM card for an iPad in Northern Europe. You must go to places that pretend to have cards and get them at places that say they do not. Once one has actually
obtained the holy object and having cut it down to size, there are Byzantium creeds that must be followed or be doomed to the realm of “No Service“.
I sought the guidance of the Wizard Søren, a wizard from the sunny warm land of Silkeborg some 120 leagues from Lemvig. Søren soon returned me to the land of ThreeGee and my withdrawal pains ceased.

What’s the difference between Invercargill and Lemvig ?
Answer; 0.5 of a degree Centigrade and 35 km in wind strength , oh, and Invercargill doesn’t have the fog either although it does have the rain right now…..

okay that’s Thyborøn not Lemvig but you get the picture.

A Windy race across Jutland

50kph side winds – promises to be an interesting day ride –

Well, it turned out that the winds were more from the back most of the way and I ended up doing just over a 100 kms in 5 hours compared to 90 kms in 10 hours a couple of days ago when I was battling the head winds.

Denmark has many bike routes, but like many elsewhere they meander and one is temped to take the straighter roads that have fast and sometimes heavy traffic. It can be difficult when the ‘car’ road sign says 41k and the bike route is 60k so it is a mixture of both.

By the way this is the HQ of Bang & Olufsen – unfortunately they weren’t giving out any free samples.

Almost last day in Denmark

I had hoped to get to Grenaa and jump the night ferry to Sweden today but it was not to be. Once again I had the perplexing choice of ‘main’ road or bike route. I tried the main roads a few times but it’s simply not enjoyable. So once again I’m at a campsite listening to the unceasing wind in the trees and 40ks from Genna by bike but 23 by car…..

I managed to start the day’s ride late thru the simple act of losing my glasses. Of course I only discovered them missing when I was getting on my bike, ready to roll with everything packed and strapped. So after one hour of unpacking etc’ I gave up and went on my way. At least I had my sunglasses.

Anyway the country for the most part was lovely, rolling woodlands amid the fields of grain.

And the occasional lake.

Oh, when I unpacked my tent, gues what was hiding there? My glasses, who clearly felt the need for extra sleep and quiet time for the day.

‘Bye Denmark, Hello Sweden

There is a real downside to having access to the Internet. You can see the forecast for anywhere out for the next fortnight! So the past week of head winds will continue for awhile. Incidentally, hands down, the best ipad app for weather is yr.no courtesy of the Norwegian Weather Service. Even for New Zealand, Let alone Scandinavia – but sometimes ignorance is bliss.

At least right now I’m enjoying the sun sitting at a cafe in Grennå waiting for the afternoon ferry to Sweden and the wind doesn’t matter.

Just got on board the ferry and on the TV is Neighbours from Oz ! Aaaargh!

Now back to reality. This was a small Strand I passed thru on the way.

Judging by the small pleasure boats in the Harbour, it must be nice sailing in summer.

And this was a beautiful castle, complete with moat nearby.

We’re now at sea and the Stenna Line ferry has free satellite Internet. Amazing now the world is changing. Also amazing is this Windfarm, some 88 square kilometres inside off the coast of Denmark that, by September will produce 4% of Denmark’s electricity.

Finally as I leave Denmark, I’d like to thank Nancy for the wonderful time in Lemvig, despite the fog and cold! and also Søren who tried to convince me that i should go south as it would be warmer and less windy. Possibly, but it was also the wrong direction.

Maybe North was a wrong decision

After yesterday’s fun, the wind was very favorable for a northerly run so I took the ferry to Denmark and Lolland

and basically got blown north by north east across the island. Actually, after the excitement of yesterday’s bridge crossing, I wanted to do the next one. But this was a 4.2k bridge…